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21
Nov 2024
Tories have ‘brass neck’ supporting farming demonstration, says Labour mayor
The Labour mayor of North Yorkshire has criticised ex-Conservative ministers for having the “brass neck” to demonstrate with farmers over a planned inheritance tax.
Thousands of farmers, including about 55 from the Knaresborough and Boroughbridge area, took to the streets of central London on Tuesday in opposition to last month's Labour government Budget.
The Budget introduced a new £1 million cap on Agricultural Property Relief. This means that from April 2026, the first £1 million of a farm’s combined business and agricultural assets will attract no inheritance tax at all – as before – but assets over £1 million, which were previously exempt, will be liable for inheritance tax of 20%, which is half the usual rate.
On Tuesday, Victoria Atkins, Conservative shadow environment secretary and former cabinet minister under Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson, and Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the opposition, were pictured supporting the demonstrations against the policy.
Speaking to the Stray Ferret, David Skaith, the Labour mayor for York and North Yorkshire, criticised the ex-ministers over their decision to join the protest.
He said farmers had suffered under the previous 14 years of Conservative government and pledged to support the industry in North Yorkshire amid concerns over the government's budget.
Mr Skaith said:
I think they have a brass neck when the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs budget was cut by £400 million over the last three years and affected farmers.
Mr Skaith has pledged to write to Steve Reed, Labour’s environment secretary, pointing out that farming is at the top of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s growth plan and feed back how the inheritance tax changes will affect farmers in the region.
When asked if he supported the government’s policy, he said:
We have to remember that the government has inherited a real mess after the last 14 years. After 14 years, we have to make some challenging choices.
I want to support our farmers. I recognise the concerns that they have. I will be leading a piece of work about how this will affect farmers and feed it back to government. We are here to listen and support our industry.
Mr Skaith said he had held a roundtable with the National Farmers' Union and the Country Land and Business Association on the matter and wanted to support growth in farming locally.
He added that he wanted to “do this with farmers, not to them”.
Mayor David Skaith with farmer Steve Welford and Roger Stones of NFU Energy.
Meanwhile, Conservative MP for Skipton and Ripon, Julian Smith, met with farmers at Tuesday's demonstration.
Mr Smith said he discussed the changes to agricultural property relief with farmers from his constituency and pledged to continue to represent the interests of the industry.
He said:
Farming is at the heart of our rural communities and plays a vital role in feeding the country and protecting our environment. Today’s event was a great opportunity to hear directly from farmers about the challenges they face – from rising input costs, the need for clear and fair agricultural policies and changes to inheritance tax rules.
The changes have been met with concern, with some fearing it could put family farms out of business.
Farmers from across the Harrogate district have told the Stray Ferret that they feel “backed into a corner” due to the changes.
Richard Tesseyman, whose family C L Tesseyman & Son are fourth generation tenant farmers at Staveley, said the changes would have a significant impact on the wider rural economy.
Mr Tesseyman, whose family are agricultural contractors besides running the 300-acre mainly arable farm, told the Stray Ferret on the journey down to London:
There is real strength of feeling about this, which is why thousands of us are going. Some people think we are going to blockade London but that’s not the case. It’s a peaceful demonstration.
This is stage one — see if we get listened to. Farners don’t want to upset the public. They are our customers. But we are getting backed into a corner.
We are already struggling and trying to compete with imported food that doesn’t have to meet the standards we have to meet. There’s boat loads of wheat and barley coming in. This has galvanised everyone and could have a massive knock-on effect to the rural economy in North Yorkshire.
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