Farmers to take inheritance tax fight to the Senedd
Emily Price
Farming families impacted by changes to inheritance tax will travel to the Senedd next week to urge MSs to support a motion calling for the policy to be reconsidered.
The controversial UK Government policy will see land and businesses worth more than £1 million face a 20% levy.
Ministers have insisted the changes – which are due to come into force in April 2026 – will not be reversed as raising revenue is required to stabilise the UK’s finances and fix creaking public services.
The proposals face fierce opposition within the sector, which says cash-poor, asset-rich farmers will be forced to sell their land, investment will stall, and the families of elderly or vulnerable farmers who do not have time for succession planning will be the most affected.
Intervention
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Cymru says the inheritance tax policy will have a “detrimental impact” on Wales’ family farms.
Plaid Cymru will lead a debate in the Senedd next Wednesday (March 5) as a last-ditch effort to persuade the Welsh Government to intervene with Labour colleagues in Westminster.
Representatives from NFU Cymru will be co-ordinating meetings between farming families and their elected representatives on the day of the Senedd debate to urge politicians from all parties to support the motion.
It calls on Welsh ministers to make representations to the UK Government that they reconsider and pause the inheritance tax policy until they have conducted a “thorough consultation and economic review” of its impact on working farms.
The debate will be led by Plaid Cymru’s Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs Llŷr Gruffydd.
‘Devastating’
He said: “This UK Government decision will have devastating consequences for farming families across Wales.
“Wales is not a nation of millionaire farmers. Our family farms operate on tight margins, and are cash-poor. Many are already in debt.
“These changes will result in families having to sell off land, cutting into their livelihoods and making their farms less viable for future generations.
“The policy is unforgiveable and utterly counter-productive at a time when we need to be strengthening our food security not undermining it.
“That’s why Plaid Cymru is calling on the Welsh Government to make the strongest possible case to their Labour colleagues in London to change course.”
NFU Cymru President Mr Aled Jones said: “If the UK Government’s planned inheritance tax changes go ahead then they will have an incredibly detrimental impact on Wales’s family farms and all of the businesses which in turn rely on them.
“By placing unsustainable tax liabilities on the backbone of our food system, the UK Government risks dismantling a vital sector and hollowing out our rural communities.
“I therefore very much welcome the fact that Plaid Cymru has secured this debate, it is vital that the impacts of these proposals on Wales are heard and properly considered here at the Senedd.”
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “It is important Welsh farmers feel their concerns are being treated seriously. We have sought and gained assurances from the UK Government that they will continue to engage with unions on the matter.”
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Farmers are the biggest benefit claiments in the country but do not even want to pay tax after they are dead. The NFU know nothing about tax as if there is a debt that will come of the total asset value and reduce any final inheritance tax bill, but with the farm size in Wales that is unlikley but they are being wound up to stop the really large and rich landowners from paying any tax. As it is likely to put downward price pressure on land values it actually benefits any younger people wanting to enter farming and lower… Read more »
Well, isn’t it a grand scene—farmers marching to the Senedd, pitchforks in hand, moaning about inheritance tax like it’s the apocalypse. The government says, “Folks, if your farm’s worth over a million quid, we’ll take 20% when you’re pushing up daisies.” Fairness, they reckon—cash for hospitals, schools, stuff we all use. But the farmers? “Oh, we’re cash-poor, asset-rich!”—a posh way of saying, “I’ve got a fortune, but don’t touch it.” A million pounds! Most of us won’t sniff that, let alone hand it over tax-free. They claim they’ll sell land, that food’ll vanish—like a 20% nibble on big estates will… Read more »
I’m afraid I lost all sympathy for the farmers when I saw them all cozying up to the abusers Hero , Mr farage during the brexit campaign.
If that’s the type of person and politics you support, then you can go whistle. You deserve to pay up.
The farmers never look too broke when they’re dumping their 40k 4×4’s with personalised plates where they want, so they can watch their Tory pals get weird gratification from tearing foxes apart.
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