UK-Farmers Slam Government Reforms as Tax Controversy Sparks Outrage

Environment Secretary Steve Reed unveiled a new initiative for farmers on Thursday, dubbed a “new deal for farmers,” amid ongoing discontent over last year’s budget policies. The announcement aimed to enhance the profitability of the agricultural sector by focusing on British produce and production, diversifying income sources, ensuring equitable supply chains, and safeguarding farmers in forthcoming trade agreements.

However, a group of dissatisfied farmers protested outside the Oxford Farming Conference, rejecting the government’s proposed reforms as “a load of rubbish.” With messages highlighted on their placards such as “Fight the tax, save our farms” and “Stop the farm tax,” demonstrators amplified their protest by honking tractors while playing “The Final Countdown” as they voiced their concerns. Julie Adams, an arable farmer from Bicester in Oxfordshire, was among those protesting. She criticized the government’s newly proposed measures, asserting that farmers had already diversified their operations and were still facing significant financial struggles. “We’re asking for the inheritance tax threshold to be raised from farms worth £1 million to £10 million,” she said, emphasizing that without reassessment from the government, protests would continue to escalate. “We haven’t even begun yet. There’s going to be more pressure, and we will persist in protesting,” she warned. Olli Fletcher, a 23-year-old from Lutterworth in Leicestershire, shared his views on the new policy announcements with skepticism. He recalled how his father’s dairy farming business collapsed in 2018 following Brexit. “I’m very skeptical.

While some goals are agreeable, I doubt the measures will be substantially beneficial,” he noted. When asked if the Environment Secretary could mend relations with the farming community, Fletcher expressed his doubts, stating, “I think it’s too late, honestly. The anger within this industry is profound, and the inheritance tax issue has become a unifying point for us.” Farmers Heidi and Jonathan Smith, who aspire to pass their farm to their children, echoed these sentiments while participating in the protest. Mrs. Smith highlighted the dire implications of the proposed tax changes, saying that discussions should solely revolve around “inheritance tax.” She remarked, “The reality is, the current inheritance tax structure is pushing our industry towards a precarious future where our children may need to sell large portions of land just to cover the tax. What then will be left for their livelihood?” Her husband, Mr. Smith, added, “The challenges of climate change are compounded by economic pressures, and after experiencing two of the worst years we’ve seen, the idea of finding additional funds for inheritance taxes is not feasible.”

Mo Metcalf-Fisher, a representative for the Countryside Alliance, who helped organize the demonstration, also criticized Mr. Reed’s attempts at reconciliation, labeling the alterations to inheritance tax as a significant obstacle to any meaningful dialogue. “Most farmers cannot ignore this pressing issue, which undermines any economic negotiations about the agricultural sector,” he stated. “A rehearsed speech that insufficiently addresses inheritance tax will not pacify us.” Inside the conference, National Farmers’ Union president Tom Bradshaw warned of imminent and larger protests, urging Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves to reconsider the inheritance tax changes. “The government appears to believe we will accept these changes quietly, but that is far from the truth,” he declared. “Farmers have gathered to ensure their voices are heard, and we will continue until the government acknowledges its missteps.”