Lincolnshire Farmers Join National Protest Against Agricultural Inheritance Tax

A farmer from Lincolnshire, participating in a protest march in London, stated that the government’s proposed alterations to inheritance tax were perceived as a “complete bombshell.” David Armstrong, who cultivates 3,500 tonnes of potatoes annually in Bardney for distribution to supermarkets and crisp manufacturers, reported experiencing sleepless nights due to the prospect of a tax liability potentially reaching £700,000 upon the death of his elderly parents. The government asserted its substantial investment in the agricultural sector but acknowledged the necessity of making “difficult decisions.” Mr. Armstrong commented: “It’s not only me who’s angry, we’re all angry.” He added: “When you get up in the morning the first thing you think about is what are we doing today? The second one is this at the moment.” He further stated: “There was a lot of announcements made in the budget that affected us, but this one, by far, overshadows the lot.” He conceded that the government was likely justified in its efforts to prevent tax avoidance originating from sectors beyond agriculture, yet maintained that “but there must be a better way.” Another participant in the march, Molly Saville, whose family operates a farm near Driffield in East Yorkshire, characterized the implementation of the tax as “ridiculous.” She declared: “No one is listening,” and emphasized: “We need our voices to be heard.” According to the government’s proposals, effective from April 2026, an inheritance tax rate of 20%—half the standard 40%—would be levied on agricultural assets exceeding £1m in value. The Treasury indicated this would impact approximately 500 farms annually. Conversely, the National Farmers Union (NFU) has asserted that as many as 70,000 farms might be impacted. The NFU orchestrated today’s parliamentary lobby, which saw the attendance of over 1,800 farmers. Tom Bradshaw, president of the NFU, spoke at the gathering, stating that the modifications were “kicking the legs out from under British food security.” He continued: “We know the horrendous pressure it is putting on the older generation of farmers who have given everything to providing food for this country.” Bradshaw further added: “We know that any tax revenue will be taken from our children and raised from those that die in tragic circumstances, all within the next seven years.” He concluded: “The human impact of this policy is simply not acceptable, it’s wrong.” Concurrently, a more extensive demonstration involving thousands of individuals unfolded in Whitehall, where TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson delivered a speech. In an analysis by Linsey Smith, BBC Look North Rural Affairs Correspondent, it was observed that participants traveled from rural areas to the capital in their thousands. Farmers, agricultural laborers, veterinarians, and drivers collectively caused a halt in Whitehall. The government asserts its appreciation for farmers. It maintains that the alteration to inheritance tax aims to prevent affluent individuals from acquiring land solely to evade tax payments. They estimate that only a limited number of family farms will be impacted annually. However, those participating in today’s march expressed dissent. Some interviewees indicated that the tax obligations would result in years of debt. Others stated they would be compelled to divest significant portions of their farms to cover the costs, rendering the remaining enterprise unprofitable and a mere vestige of the business established by their grandparents. Beneath the dissatisfaction concerning inheritance tax, an underlying resentment persists regarding the government’s perceived lack of comprehension of rural areas. This underlying tension escalated today. Nevertheless, a common question remained: “was anybody listening?” Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, informed the BBC that Labour stood “on the side of rural Britain” and that “the vast majority” of individuals would continue to incur no costs under the revised framework. He further stated that the government planned to allocate £5bn in investments to the agricultural sector over the forthcoming two years. Reed affirmed: “Farmers are the backbone of Britain, and we recognise the strength of feeling expressed by farming and rural communities in recent weeks.” He continued: “We are steadfast in our commitment to Britain’s farming industry because food security is national security.“However, with public services crumbling and a £22bn fiscal hole that this government inherited, we have taken difficult decisions.” For additional content, listeners can access highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, view the most recent episode of Look North, or submit story suggestions here. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available for review.