Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves (Image: Getty)
Last week, I had the privilege of welcoming farmers from North Shropshire to Parliament. Among the sea of protesters rallying against the Family Farm Tax were a very strong number from my constituency – not surprising given the well over 1,000 farm holdings we have here, and the enormous impact of Labour’s proposed changes to IHT on our area.
These hard-working farmers are the backbone of rural communities like my own, and their concerns deserve to be heard loud and clear. Changes to farm taxes, introduced under Labour’s Budget, are a direct threat to the future of family farming.
Hiking IHT for family farmers will dramatically increase the financial burden when passing their farms and homes down to the next generation. In North Shropshire alone, we estimate that nearly 300 farms will be impacted, jeopardising livelihoods and the sustainability of our agricultural sector.
Many farms in our area already operate on slim margins, and this additional tax could spell the end for countless family-run businesses. I’ve launched a petition against this unfair policy, which has already been signed by 500 rural people. But this isn’t just about taxes.
Farmers are facing a perfect storm of challenges: skyrocketing energy costs, trade deals that undercut British producers, record wet weather, and a botched transition from the Basic Payment Scheme. Next year, direct payments will be slashed by 76%, leaving farmers without the vital support they need to stay afloat.
Keir Starmer makes changes to farm taxes (Image: Getty)
Our farmers deserve better. The unfair trade deals were a betrayal by the . Now, Labour is doubling down on policies that show a complete disregard for the realities of rural life and the brutal economics of farming.
It’s time for change. I’m calling on the Government to reverse this disastrous tax, halt the reckless phase-out of payments, and work with farmers—not against them—to ensure they can feed the nation and care for our environment.
The future of British farming is on the line, and I will not stop fighting to protect it.
Helen Morgan is the Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire