The government has outlined plans to hold a technical consultation on the draft legislation, including on inheritance tax, to ensure it 鈥榳orks as intended鈥�.听
This is a common process in the development of a Finance Bill, but given the appalling consequences of this legislation, the NFU will be holding the government to account on every element of this policy. 皇家华人has repeatedly provided evidence that the current policy does not achieve the government鈥檚 intentions of closing a loophole, protecting family farms, or generating as much revenue as it should. Nor do we agree that it is 鈥榥ot expected to have a material impact on food security鈥�.听
On the other hand, the NFU鈥檚 鈥榗lawback鈥� solution would allow the Treasury to raise the revenue it seeks without tearing apart farming families or jeopardising domestic food production.听
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously said: 鈥淚f somebody makes powerful representations, then my instinct is to consider what鈥檚 being said. Getting it right is more important than ploughing on with a package which doesn鈥檛 necessarily achieve the desired outcome3.鈥澨�
皇家华人agrees, and we are far from alone.听
Since the Budget in November 2024, swathes of MPs from all parties, including members of the government鈥檚 own back benches, alongside county councils4, farming and business organisations5, the food supply chain6 and over a quarter of a million members of the British public7 have joined the call to stop the family farm tax. Even the Office for Budget Responsibility and the government鈥檚 own have highlighted the impact these reforms will have on vulnerable elderly farmers.听
Throughout the summer, NFU members have also made their voices heard. At county shows across the country, thousands of letters and postcards were collected from farmers and the public to be sent directly to MPs 鈥� each sharing personal stories of how this tax will devastate their family farms.听
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: 鈥淎t the heart of this battle are the elderly farmers who have devoted their entire lives to growing food for the country and supporting their rural communities. They should not become collateral damage. To see them face such uncertainty, knowing the legacy they and their families have worked hard for and grown could be ripped away by this tax, is heartbreaking. I cannot begin to imagine the fear many must be feeling right now 鈥� their homes, their livelihoods and everything they鈥檝e worked for is under threat.听
鈥淚 have spoken directly to the Prime Minister and Treasury Exchequer Secretary James Murray about the disastrous impact of this tax. Yet, despite our persistent efforts, Chancellor Rachel Reeves still refuses to meet us to discuss our alternative 鈥榗lawback鈥� proposal. The Treasury claims our solution will raise less revenue, but is refusing to release the modelling on how it came to this conclusion.听
鈥淚 echo the Prime Minister鈥檚 own words: getting this right is more important than pushing ahead with a policy that does not achieve its intentions.听
鈥淔armers, supermarkets, councils, MPs across the political spectrum and the wider public have all voiced their concerns about this tax. This issue goes far beyond farming. The food and farming sector supports millions of jobs, fuels our domestic food supply and contributes billions to the UK economy. When you undermine farm businesses, you undermine a vital part of our national infrastructure. If this legislation goes ahead, it will unquestionably have devastating and irreversible impacts on the country and it is so poorly designed that it will inevitably have to be changed in the future.听
鈥淚 want to thank every one of our members who took the time to write postcards and letters to their MPs over the summer 鈥� your voices are vital. We continue to urge all farmers and the public to make their representations directly to their MPs to show first-hand the impact of this damaging tax.听
鈥淭he Prime Minister must now take his own advice and listen to the overwhelming evidence that the current policy will not work as intended. To ignore the consequences this tax will bring would be a betrayal of the very people who feed our nation. We cannot stand by and watch the backbone of the countryside be broken when there is a credible alternative being offered.听
鈥淭his is a moment that demands listening, compassion and action. The government needs to sit down with farming representatives to find a solution that protects the future of our domestic food production 鈥� before it is too late.鈥澨�