FIGHT GOES ON TO COMPLETELY SCRAP FARM RAID

FARMERS will fight on following Sir Keir Starmer's climbdown on the “cruel and immoral” inheritance tax raid.

- BY STEPH SPYRO and CHRISTIAN CALGIE

The Prime Minister watered down Rachel Reeves' cash grab in a surprise U-turn yesterday, following a passionate backlash from rural communities and politicians.

The threshold for agricultural assets that can be passed on without paying inheritance tax will rise from £1million to £2.5million.

Farmer Jonathan Charlesworth, whose dad Philip took his own life amid fears of IHT, said the retreat was “the best Christmas present for a lot of farmers”.

But campaigners vowed to battle on until the IHT threat is completely removed. Theeasing of Ms Reeves' original tax raid announced in last year's Budget - marks a partial victory for the Daily Express's Save Britain's Family Farms crusade.

The 20% duty on agricultural assets, which is due to begin in April 2026, will end the 100% tax relief introduced in the 1980s to help protect asset-rich, cash poor farmers and the food industry.

Jonathan found father Philip's body in a barn on their £2million farm in Silkstone, Barnsley, the day before the 2024 Budget announcement following widespread speculation about the IHT change.

An inquest at Sheffield coroners court was told Philip, 78, had been "growing more and more anxious about inheritance tax and the implications for the farm".

Jonathan told the hearing he believed his father wanted to "beat" the government's proposals and "save the farm for future generations".

Yesterday he accused ministers of "a complete lack of understanding and compassion" towards rural communities.

And he said Philip would "definitely, definitely still be here" if the threshold had been £2.5million from the outset.

He added: "I would imagine the Prime Minister has suddenly realised that he could have quite a few deaths on his hands if he doesn't do something.