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POLL: Should Labour U-turn on farmer inheritance tax?H

Farmers are protesting in London against Labour’s inheritance tax hike in the Budget, but should they U-turn on the decision? Vote and join in the debate.

Farmers protesting against tax hike

POLL: Should Labour U-turn on farmer inheritance tax? (Image: Getty)

Thousands of farmers are protesting outside Westminster against Labour’s controversial changes to inheritance tax.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) has accused the government of “betrayal” and plans a day of speeches at Church House in Westminster before marching to parliament.

Tractors have been seen driving past Big Ben, and a grassroots protest will kick off on Whitehall this morning, Tuesday, November 19.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in her Budget last month that from April 2026, inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1million, which were previously exempt, will be liable to the tax at 20%, half the usual rate.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw told BBC Newsnight: “These are people’s lives, these are people’s livelihoods we are talking about. They have no ability to plan.”

The Treasury says the hike will only affect the wealthiest 500 estates each year, but the NFU and the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) estimate that up to 70,000 farms could be affected.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: “It’s only right to ask the very wealthiest farmers and those wealthy individuals who have been buying up agricultural land to avoid their own inheritance tax liability, to pay their fair share.”

Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins said that Labour had delivered a “budget of broken promises” that was “killing British farming”.

While the Liberal Democrats environment spokesman Tim Farron told BBC Breakfast that the Treasury’s estimate of 500 farms being affected each year was “utter rubbish”.

He said: “The only way that people can pay the inheritance is get rid of the farm – so corporates buy it. It’s cruel, it’s unfair, it’s also incredibly stupid.”

So what do YOU think? Should Labour U-turn on farmer inheritance tax? Vote in our poll and join the debate in the comment section below.

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