Charlie Dewhirst, Member of Parliament for Bridlington and The Wolds, has voiced his grave concerns over the Labour Party’s move to scrap Inheritance Tax protection for family farms, with a new inheritance tax structure that imposes a tax burden of around £240,000 on the average English farm. This decision threatens the livelihoods of over 70,000 farming families – including around Bridlington, Driffield, Hornsea, Market Weighton and the Wolds – damaging food security, rural communities, and nature recovery.
Labour’s tax changes, announced this week in the Budget, will mean that farming families will face an inheritance tax bill on land and assets passed down to the next generation. This bill will be in the hundreds of thousands, or even millions for larger family farms. It strikes at the very heart of British agriculture, compromising our ability to produce food domestically, sustain rural economies, and continue vital environmental stewardship.
As family farms face potential closure or forced sales, the repercussions will extend to the country’s food security. At a time when Labour should be carrying on the work of the Conservative’s to bolster domestic food production, by investing in productivity this tax will undermine these efforts, risking reliance on imported produce that lacks the high standards of sustainability and quality upheld by British farmers.
The ripple effect of this policy will devastate rural communities, where family farms are not only economic cornerstones but also drivers of community life, local jobs, and social cohesion. Without protection from this tax, rural families may be unable to afford the burden, leading to farm closures and subsequent loss of rural jobs, schools, and services.
In addition, British farms play a critical role in nature recovery, implementing environmental programs and land stewardship that contribute to biodiversity and the health of the countryside. Labour’s tax changes will jeopardise these efforts, putting more pressure on natural landscapes as family-run farms struggle to stay operational.
Charlie Dewhirst MP commented:
"This Budget was an assault on the countryside and a blow to businesses right across Bridlington and the Wolds. Labour’s plans are a threat to jobs and our rural way of life.
Farmers steward our countryside whilst feeding the nation, and they deserve to be protected – not penalised. I am absolutely appalled by Labour's plans for farming families and will be fighting very hard to reverse their decision.”
Charlie urges all who value British farming, food security and our rural heritage to oppose these changes by signing the petition at www.stopthefarmtax.com. Together, we can work to preserve the future of UK agriculture, protect rural communities, and secure our nation’s commitment to environmental recovery.
For more information or support on this, or any other issue, please contact Charlie Dewhirst MP by email to [email protected]
