Tax change 'distracting' farmers from environmental impact focus

THE Government’s changes to inheritance tax and other challenges are “bad” for farmers’ focus on reducing their environmental impact, according to the head of the environment watchdog.

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Alan Lovell, chairman of the Environment Agency, revealed farmers caused a record number of pollution incidents in English rivers last year in a slideshow document obtained by The Times.

The slides, which Mr Lovell presented to an audience of landowners at the Rivers’ Forum 2025 in Maidenhead last week and have been seen by the PA news agency, outlined figures and a general overview of river pollution incidents in 2024.

Mr Lovell also outlined issues that are distracting farmers in a slide titled: “Challenges for farmers bad for environmental focus”.

These include Chancellor Rachel Reeves's introduction of a 20% inheritance tax on agricultural properties and businesses, which has become a political flashpoint for a struggling industry, sparking major outrage and ongoing tractor protests.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said the Government recognises challenges farmers are facing and that Mr Lovell’s comments at the forum were not critical of its policy, but rather provided context for the outlined challenges.