Wiltshire farmers set to go to Parliament to debate inheritance tax with MPs
Over 140,000 people signed a petition to support the country’s farmers
Farmers from Wiltshire and across the UK will be taking to London today to call on the government to reconsider the introduction of an inheritance tax.
So far, farmers have been exempt from having to pay taxes when their land was handed down in the family, but the so-called Family Farm Tax could change that.
Many farmers now fear that the introduction of this tax could threaten their livelihoods or those of younger generations.
Tim Carson, who runs a farm in Pewsey Vale, said: “We need to engage the government in conversation because these measures – the inheritance tax, getting rid of the ability to be able to hand over your farm to the next generation – came as a complete shock”.
Farmers from all over Britain are set to demonstrate in London today, before the start of a debate in Parliament.
The debate will be chaired by Ben Goldsborough, MP for South Norfolk, and MPs from all other parties are expected to attend the meeting as well as representatives of the younger generation.
The debate is the result of a petition.
“We've already had one petition with with over 270,000 signatures from members of the public supporting the farmers. This one was at least 147,000. And obviously any signatories that are handed in to the government, with over 100,000 signatures have to be put up for debate.
“So on Monday, we've got the farming leaders from Scotland, Wales and England, National Farmers unions from those three countries and they will be in London. Young farmers from all over the country, 2 from each county, from England, Scotland, Wales will be there as well to be able to speak to MPs.
“From Wiltshire we've got Darcy Johnson and Mike Wilkins, who are former Young NFU ambassadors for Wiltshire. And they'll be joining the debate because obviously the inheritance tax that was introduced in the budget by Rachel Reeves is directly going to be affecting the younger generation”, explained Tim Carson.
The UK currently produces around 60% of its food – meaning that two in five products are imported from other countries.
With the inheritance tax, famers are expecting this number to rise more.
“If if it means that farmers have got to sell off some of their land to pay this tax, then they’re left with a farm that probably isn’t viable anymore.
“Food security should be at the very top of any government's list in the entire world to feed your population. We've got to remember we are an island nation and all we're doing is producing less and less food for an increasing population”, added Mr Carson.
“I mean, we're looking at, I think, figures for 2030 of up to 73 million on this island. That's more than France who have five times the land mass that we do.
“We don't have enough food and we can't rely on imports because other countries are going through the similar problems with climate change”.
The debate will be available to watch via livestream from 4.30pm.