Cambridgeshire MP will keep 'banging on about farmers' in New Year pledge
Charlotte Cane has said she won't let the issue go
As we settle into a new year, one of Cambridgeshire's MPs won't be letting go of a long-standing problem anytime soon.
"I will keep banging on about the farmers," Charlotte Cane, MP for Ely and East Cambridgeshire, said.
After months of protests, the Government has watered down on inheritance tax for farmers, raising the relief threshold from £1 million to £2.5m.
The Government said this would allow spouses or civil partners to pass on up to £5m in qualifying agricultural or business assets between them before paying inheritance tax, on top of existing allowances.
Farmers 'important to all of us'
But Ms Cane - of the Liberal Democrats - understands the need to continue supporting local farming.
"They're important to my constituency, but none of us could eat if we didn't have farmers, so they're important to all of us," she added.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds has said that the Government has "listened closely to farmers across the country" following the decision to increase the inheritance tax threshold.
"Farmers are at the heart of our food security and environmental stewardship, and I am determined to work with them to secure a profitable future for British farming," Ms Reynolds said.
Looking ahead
In 2025, Ms Cane said she has dealt with almost 10,000 cases where constituents have come to her with issues around areas such as planning, immigration and housing.
And in the last 12 months, she feels proud to continue putting "East Cambridgeshire's case to government" since taking office in the summer of 2024.
Speaking to us on her aims for the forthcoming year, Ms Cane wants to help more local people onto the housing ladder.
"There just isn't genuinely affordable housing in the constituency," she said.
"There's too many people on the waiting lists and some of the housing is very poor quality, so I'd like to see more progress on that."
Another issue that also needs improving according to the Liberal Democrat MP is local public transport.
"I've got villages who haven't got buses at all," Ms Cane said.
"Most of the constituency doesn't have buses on Sundays or in the evenings, and it makes it very difficult for people to get around for work, for leisure, to visit family and friends.
The Government has allocated £31m to improve bus services in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough during the next three years as part of a wider £309 billion package for the East of England.
But as well as specific issues, Ms Cane hopes she is making a difference.
"I like to think people feel I've been involved in the community, they see me around, so I hope people feel that I'm available, engaged and that I represent them in Parliament," she added.