MEL STRIDE, MP for Central Devon and Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, met with Devon NFU members amid rising concerns about the Government’s proposed changes to inheritance tax laws.
It is estimated that more than 100,000 farms across the country will be hit by the changes, devastating small family farms and posing a serious risk to domestic food security while driving up food prices.
Mr Stride met with local farmers and NFU representatives at Cheriton Bishop Village Hall to discuss how Labour’s Family Farm Tax will affect farming in Devon.
The majority of farms in Devon are not huge 1000 acres farms – they are 200–400-acre family farms which will be hit badly by this tax. The NFU claims the Treasury have undervalued many farms, leading to incorrect figures for how many farms will be impacted.
Farmers in attendance also raised concerns about the closure of 76 capital grant schemes, which provide standalone agreements for specific environment outcomes.
NFU Deputy President David Exwood said: “The sudden closure of many of the capital grant applications will come as a real blow to members, many of whom are relying on these grants to achieve their environmental ambitions.
“The messaging of this is confusing – farmers and growers are being asked to adopt measures to improve the environment but have been left in the lurch without access to the key grant schemes which will enable them to do this.”
Speaking after the meeting, Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon and Shadow Chancellor, said: “Family farms sit at the heart of our rural communities in Devon; our green spaces, tourist industry and small businesses are all connected to generational farming roots.
“The introduction of a tax on family farms and the closure of capital grant schemes makes clear that this Labour’s Government do not have farmers best interests at heart.
“I look forward to continuing my work with the NFU and others to hold this Government to account and urge them to reconsider.”
