Farmers fume over Chancellor’s refusal to meet

FURIOUS farmers say Chancellor Rachel Reeves is refusing to meet them over “cruel” inheritance tax hikes.

And they are warning the Labour Government “we will not give up”.

Thousands protested in London this week over increased taxes they say will destroy rural Britain.

Both sides have been unable to agree on how many will be hurt by the changes – with farmers warning it’s many more than Treasury estimates.

Reeves announced in the Budget that from April 2026 inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1million will be subject to inheritance tax at 20 per cent.

Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers’ Union, told the Sun on Sunday: “All I want to do is sit down with the Chancellor and discuss a way forward but, so far, she has refused.

“Rest assured, the NFU will continue to push hard to stop the family farm tax; it’s cruel, it’s wrong and it risks decimating our sector.”

Victoria Vyvyan, president of the Country Land and Business Association, said: “We will not give up. Hitting farmers with huge inheritance tax bills could put livelihoods at risk.”

And Tim Bonner, Countryside Alliance chief exec, said: “This policy will hurt the countryside and rural communities and threaten our food security.”

Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins said Labour simply don’t understand basic maths.

And she blasted them for risking food shortages and higher food prices.

“Labour don’t understand the countryside, nor do they care about it,” she said.

“Their policies risk the end of farming as we know it.”

The Treasury was contacted for comment.