Thousands call on MPs to support UK farmers

A PUBLIC letter-writing campaign launched by the NFU to highlight the ‘devastating impact’ of the family farm tax has garnered huge support, with more than 12,000 letters sent to 551 MPs in just 12 days urging them to “speak up for farming”.

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The letters encourage MPs to watch an emotional interview aired by the BBC's Countryfile, with Welsh farmer Tom Rees and his father Charles, in which they highlight the disastrous consequences of the proposed inheritance tax changes on their family farm, especially on their ability to continue to produce food and the viability of the farm for future generations.

The NFU’s Stop the Family Farm Tax campaign has not only received enormous backing from the British public, but over the past year has had broad support from across the UK's food and farming sectors and other allied industries, retailers and the influential Efra Select Committee, who have all said the family farm tax is unfair to those affected.

The independent UK-based research centre CenTax has also argued that the policy needs changes to deliver the Government's intentions, and has proposed a number of amendments.

One South West dairy farmer voiced grave concerns over the UK Government’s Family Tax plan and argues any measures that go ahead should be balanced, fair and proportionate.