Inheritance tax fear led to suicide, inquest told

FARMER killed himself the day before the Budget after weeks of worrying about looming changes to inheritance tax, an inquest has heard.

- KATIE DICKINSON Reporter

John Charlesworth's son said he believed his father wanted to “beat” the government's proposals and “save the farm for future generations”.

Mr Charlesworth, 78, who went by his middle name Philip, was found dead by his son Jonathan Charlesworth, 47, in a barn of their farm in Silkstone, Barnsley, on October 29 last year.

‘An inquest at Sheffield Coroner's Court heard that Mr Charlesworth had also been struggling to care for his wife, who had severe dementia and had recently been diagnosed with cancer.

‘The hearing was told that in the months before Rachel Reeves’ Budget he had been “growing more and more anxious about inheritance tax and the implications for the farm’: