LABOUR HANDS OVER CASH TO FOREIGN FARMERS

You really could not make it up! The Government commits £536m in aid for overseas agriculture projects despite inheritance tax grab at home

- Christian Calgie

LABOUR is facing fury for "destroying" British farms with a tax raid as it sends hundreds of millions of pounds to foreign farmers.

Huge bankrolling projects in Africa, Asia and South America.

More than £536million is being spent on 10 schemes including grants for low-carbon practices in Brazil, the world's 11th-richest nation.

About £16million will be splashed on producing tea in Rwanda.

Senior Tory MP Robert Jenrick hit out at Labour for "spending hundreds of millions on foreign farmers while British livelihoods are destroyed by their cruel inheritance tax changes.

"That will feel like a slap in the face for many British farmers." The Shadow Cabinet minister added: "It's not too late for [PM Sir Keir] Starmer to listen, admit he's made a big mistake and actually keep a promise he made at the election." His Tory MP colleague Greg Smith, who represents the rural seat of Mid Buckinghamshire, called the revelation "a total outrage" and "yet another absurdity from this Labour government".

He added: "It is beyond belief they try to claim to be on the side of British farmers, whilst simultaneously introducing the cruel Family Farm Tax, bumping up the cost of fertiliser and now directly funding foreign farmers." Only last month the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office launched a fund to send £24m of UK taxpayers' cash to Kenya and other countries to help build profitable businesses that contribute to their food security, drive economic growth and create jobs and income in rural areas.