Farmers across the UK have voiced strong disapproval after the government announced a reduction in inheritance tax relief for farms, limiting it to £1 million, as reported by The BBC.
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) described the decision as a “disastrous budget” for family farms, arguing that it would hinder the next generation’s ability to continue British food production and force farmers to sell land to cover the tax burden.
The policy shift has sparked widespread dismay on social media, with notable personalities such as Jeremy Clarkson and Kirstie Allsopp weighing in. Allsopp claimed the decision revealed the government’s “zero understanding of what matters to rural voters.”
In the recent budget, the Chancellor confirmed that while farms with combined business and agricultural assets below £1 million would remain exempt from inheritance tax, assets exceeding this threshold would face a 50% relief at an effective rate of 20%, starting April 2026.
Somerset farmer Richard Payne shared that he has advised his son to consider a different career path, as he believes farming would soon become “completely unviable” under the new tax restrictions. He noted that the £1 million cap might only cover the smallest farms, potentially leading to increased land acquisition by large corporations and altering the face of UK agriculture.
Holly Purdey, a Somerset farmer and vice-chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, echoed these concerns. She stressed that the “longevity and generational thinking” fundamental to many farmers’ care for the land could be lost.
Across social media platform X, farmers warned that the decision would spell the end for smaller, family-run farms. Clarkson, host of Clarkson’s Farm, urged farmers not to despair, predicting that political change would come soon. “Just look after yourselves for five short years, and this shower will be gone,” he wrote. Allsopp echoed his sentiments, calling the decision “an appalling” one that would “destroy farmers’ ability to pass farms onto their children.”
Shadow Secretary of State for Rural Affairs Steve Barclay stated on X that Labour had “broken a clear promise” by altering the tax relief. Victoria Vyvyan, President of the Country Land and Business Association, similarly criticised the move as “nothing short of a betrayal,” recalling that Secretary of State Steve Reed had assured farmers last year that APR would remain unchanged. Vyvyan estimated that the £1 million cap could negatively impact around 70,000 farms, describing it as a move that would “put dynamite beneath the livelihoods of British farming.”
Tom Bradshaw, President of the NFU, also condemned the budget as “disastrous for family farmers,” accusing the government of backtracking on its APR promises and jeopardizing both British food production and environmental stewardship.
However, the government stated that the policy would only affect an estimated 2,000 estates annually. They also committed to preserving the £2.4 billion farming budget for England through 2025/26. Food Security Minister Daniel Zeichner reaffirmed the government’s “steadfast” commitment to farmers and their essential role in feeding the nation.
One Response
The question really to be asked is why morally if you are a farmer should you be entitled to pass your assets tax free when everyone else is subject to tax.