Devoted farmer Olly Harrison has issued a desperate rallying call on behalf of the industry, urging the Government not to “steal our children’s future”.
Along with thousands of farmers up and down the nation, the father of three fears he will no longer be able to pass on his family business after the controversial budget raid on inheritances.
Mr Harrison, 43, said he could be forced to sell around a third of the farm when he inherits it from his 76-year-old father Thomas to pay tax bills.
The fifth-generation farmer told the Express: “You are stealing our children’s future and destroying the hard work of generations before us.
“No one owns a farm, you just look after it for the next generation. I was lucky enough to be able to have the opportunity to look after it and I want my children to have the same but the way it is now that’s impossible.”
‘No one owns a farm, you just look after it for the next generation’ (Image: CHRIS NEILL)
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Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled reforms at last month’s Budget limiting the existing 100% relief for farms to only the first £1 million of combined agricultural and business property.
But the measure has sparked widespread fury from farmers who are demanding a U-turn.
Mr Harrison, who is an agricultural social media influencer, believes he may have to sell around 30% of the family’s farm in Prescot, Merseyside, to pay inheritance tax, as well as capital gains tax on the profits of assets sold and other costs such as solicitors.
He said that “in the Treasury’s eyes” his 1,400 acre farm is worth about £10 million, but added: “In my eyes it’s tools to grow food, with a lot of bank debt.”
The arable farm grows crops including wheat, which is used to make bread and cereal, and barley, which is used for animal feed and brewing.
Mr Harrison – who lives on the farm with fiancee Charlotte Ruddy and children Olivia, 12, James, two, and one-year-old Clara – added that it has lost money four out of the last five years due to poor harvests.
He said: “My dad’s worked all his life. But his lifetime’s work, his father’s work, we could have to sell 30% of it off just to stay living in the house.
“So then you think what am I doing it for if I can’t pass it on to the kids? Should I just give up now and pack up and go and do something else?”
Farmer Olly Harrison (Image: CHRIS NEILL)
The farmer – who has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media platforms including , , and – helped organise a major protest by farmers in Westminster last week.
, who fronts Prime Video’s Clarkson’s Farm, was among speakers at the rally in central London.
Mr Harrison vowed that farmers will “keep the pressure on” until the policy is reversed.
A private meeting between Sir and National Farmers’ Union (NFU) leader Tom Bradshaw on Tuesday has raised hopes of a potential softening to the changes.
Mr Harrison urged the Prime Minister and the Chancellor to admit they have made a mistake.
He said: “It’s a bigger person to admit when they’re wrong than it is to be in denial.
“They’d get more respect admitting it and owning up to it than sticking their fingers in their ears and pretending it’s going to go away because it isn’t.”
Mr Harrison raised concerns about the suicide risk among farmers over the changes, which come into effect next April.
He said: “The anguish that it’s causing at the moment is incredible and the sooner they get their act together and scrap it the less people that are going to be taking their lives.
“If your lifetime’s work can be taken away from you, people don’t do farming for the money, the motivation is for your children.”
Mr Harrison rejected the Government’s claim that the vast majority of farms would not be affected by the changes.
And he added that ministers have “completely missed the target” if they are trying to tackle tax avoidance with the changes.
Mr Harrison also warned of the impact of the reforms on food prices and food security in the UK.
He urged people to buy British where they can to help support the industry, which is facing challenges including extreme weather.
He said: “Food doesn’t come from the shops, it comes from farms. If you can buy British because we have the highest standards out of anyone in the world so if you want to eat healthy and safely buy British.”
The social media star backed the Daily Express’s Save Britain’s Family Farms crusade for a U-turn on the policy.
Opposition parties including the , Reform and the Lib Dems have criticised the changes.
Recent polling by More in Common found 58% of the public say they support the farmers’ protests.
A Government spokesperson said: “Our commitment to farmers remains steadfast – we have committed £5 billion to the farming budget over two years, including more money than ever for sustainable food production.
“Our reform to Agricultural and Business Property Relief will impact around 500 estates a year.
“For these estates, inheritance tax will be at half the rate paid by others, with 10 years to pay the liability back interest free. This is a fair and balanced approach which fixes the public services we all rely on.”