Persistent and peaceful campaigning by farmers ‘could get change’, says Farage
“Persistent and peaceful” campaigning by farmers on new inheritance tax rules could “get change”, Nigel Farage has said.
The Reform UK leader predicted that Labour MPs in rural seats would be “getting scared”, and would put pressure on Number 10 if they see “local communities getting behind these families” who have been impacted by the changes.
Farmers will stage another tractor protest outside Parliament on Monday as their campaign against the new tax rules continues.
Labour has insisted it will not make a U-turn on its plans to introduce a 20% inheritance tax rate on farms worth more than £1 million.
Changes
The changes announced in the Budget are due to come into force in April 2026 and scrap an exemption which meant no inheritance tax was paid to pass down family farms.
Monday’s tractor rally, organised by Save British Farming, comes as MPs debate an e-petition with more than 148,000 signatures calling to keep the current inheritance tax exemptions for working farms.
Speaking at a Farmers To Action campaign event in north London before the event in Westminster, Mr Farage told the PA news agency: “I’m pleased to see the campaign is ramping up. It’s growing right across the country.
“The message I’ve been putting to them, I think they’re listening too, which is 100 Labour MPs now represent rural seats – if they see local communities getting behind these families, they’re going to start getting scared, and they’re going to start putting pressure on No 10, and let’s face it, they’re in pretty big trouble already.
“So I think if this campaign is persistent and peaceful, they can get change.”
Mr Farage also advocated “just getting rid of inheritance tax as a whole”.
“Horrible”
Asked if he thought the measure should be scrapped completely, Mr Farage said: “Yes, I do actually. You’re basically taxing money that’s been taxed already as a death tax, and it’s horrible.
“People living in semi-detached houses in London are now dragged into inheritance tax. And yes, of course, you can do seven-year planning and all the rest of it, but unlikely things happen. I honestly believe just getting rid of inheritance tax as a whole would be a good thing.”
The National Farmers’ Union – which has organised previous protests on the issue – said it supports any of its members taking part on Monday.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “The strength of feeling around the proposed family farm tax is still incredibly high.
“We support any members who want to take part in other respectful and lawful demonstrations which work towards our aim to stop the family farm tax.”
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So Nige, what is your plan to fund the NHS?
What was that? “mutter mutter free at the point of something something gotta go now left the oven on….” [nige runs away from reporter].
No surprise millionare toff Farage is against a tax which impacts the rich.
I saw this and my first thought was – why are you giving publicity to this man? He has no charisma, no talent, no policies and has no idea where his constituency is… There’s yet another report in the English press today about how Reform will sweep Wales – interesting that the English press shows any interest in Wales only when the F is around. But there’s a very important message here. Farage is good at publicity, he knows that newspapers, tv, radio, social media et al have pages to fill and broadcasting hours to find something to say. Farage… Read more »
One in House of Lords the other, Lord passes away…!
He’s clearly a charismatic leader by any measure, he’s a millionaire (just like Starmer), he orchestrated the biggest constitutional change in living memory, Reform’s policies are on their web site….oh, and they’re currently set to hammer Welsh Labour come election time.
Would you care to substantiate with evidence your suggestion that Starmer’s a millionaire, because it’s the first I’ve heard of it.
I suspect his stint as DPP entitles him to a decent pension and his salary as PM is similarly substantial, but I doubt that either projects him into the ‘millionaire’ class!
His home is alone worth an estimated £1.2 million John – you can work out the rest if you like.
If that’s true – and I’m aware that house values in London are often crazy – that still doesn’t mean much unless he puts it up for sale.
Which he might well be unwise to do, since unless things change from how they are right now I think he’s likely to lead a one-term government.
And if he has to vacate no. 10, he’ll still need somewhere to live.
Yep, he f****d the UK up with Brexit, and next it’ll be Wales. And you think this charlatan is going to sort out our problems from Clacton?
He’s only supporting wealthy farmers because he thought buying farmland was a good inheritance tax dodge, compounding the inflating of land values.
Fair’s fair though, he does look the part, just like he did at the helm of that trawler he didn’t buy in solidarity with the fishing industry he destroyed.
Why would you vote for an English nationalist, unless of course you live in england
Good Ol’ Nigel, standing firm with the farmers, just like he did with the fishermen, who faithfully followed his empty promises over Brexit.
Is it just coincidence he’s got some farmland? So what’s in it for him?
Farage speaking on behalf of the farmers, the guardians of our countryside and wildlife. Official gov figures show ONE IN SIX animal species in Cymru is under the threat of extinction. Think how bad that would be if the farmers weren’t looking after the countryside. (does my sarcasm show, anybody).
‘Think how bad that would be if the farmers weren’t looking after the countryside. (does my sarcasm show, anybody).’ You have a point. Between 2007 and 2016 we were living in the south-east of Greater Manchester at the point where suburbia finally gave out to open fields at the point where the land first began to rise in altitude as the A6 road headed towards of Peak District of the southern Pennines. I was struck by the variety of wild life there: many species of birds, wood mice in the garden at evening and badgers pottering round our garden at… Read more »
When this controversy first kicked off, I started off by feeling a fair amount of sympathy for the pleas of farmers. I’ve lived in three pretty rural areas during the course of my life, and two of the three – including the community where my partner and I live now – have been in upland areas of Wales. Hill farming’s by no means an easy life in terms of its financial rewards, and there are all too frequently times when those rewards can be pretty scant. But if the NFU seriously want to engage the sympathy and understanding of folk… Read more »
I might have missed it but I’m yet to see a counter proposal from the NFU. There is always a middle ground, especially around farmers close to retirement age who haven’t planned ahead. But as far as I can see they haven’t put anything forward. And Farage definitely hasn’t!
All fair points – I agree.
The amount they stand to gain from winning this IHT argument is going to offset with Sadiq khan ULEZ charges soon!
Standing up for the billionaires again? Perhaps he’s right and they shouldn’t pay tax because it really is only for the little people.
Excellent article from the LSE arguing that most farmers will, in fact, BENEFIT from the changes to inheritance tax: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/only-the-super-rich-need-fear-the-farmers-inheritance-tax/ As usual, the protests are being organised by the super rich to protect their own interests and the ‘ordinary’ farmers are, as usual, going along with it because they are too thick to think for themselves ‘Ooohaarggh! Yes sir! No sir! Three bags full sir!’ Honestly, they are so stupid I sometimes think to hell with it, bring on the free trade agreement with the USA and let our dim-witted farmers go bust. Wales is not, contrary to what our… Read more »
Farage in his fancy dress costume, he wants a free trade deal with US, have the farmers thought what that means for their businesses!
First and foremost Farage and Reform are far right English Nationalist Part and the clue to that was in his speech today at the farmers protest he said ENGLISH FARMERS not british farmers so no mention of Farmers from Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland and as for our N H S he wants rid of it you will have to have insurance or money to pay for treatment he will sell it to his yankee freinds he is a hard nosed Thatcherite
If the farmers join with farage and his dirty scumbag gang, then they don’t deserve the public support.