The plight of farmers across Kent will be highlighted by the MP for Maidstone and Malling in a major rally against Labour’s Family Farm Tax plans today (Tuesday).
Despite Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Environment Secretary Steve Reed previously promising to protect farmers, under Government proposals, more than 100,000 farms across the country will be hit by new inheritance tax laws.
They will be devastating for family farms and pose a serious risk to domestic food security and food prices.
A petition at stopthefarmtax.com has been set up for people to back British farming and oppose the new tax, while farmers will gathered in Westminster today in opposition to Labour’s plans.
They were joined by Conservative MP for Maidstone and Malling, Helen Grant MP, who says Labour’s political choice to target farmers is a cruel blow to the industry and will affect workers and consumers across the country.
“Labour’s ideological decision to target farmers – despite promising not to do so – has the potential to wreck farmer’s lives and the whole industry,” she said.
“Not only have they underestimated and undervalued the farms affected by this harsh new tax, but the knock-on effects for the whole country could be disastrous.
“It is why I will stand beside our farmers here in Kent and those from across the country, to show the Labour Government they have made not only a bad decision, but the wrong decision.
“I will remain committed to helping local farmers fight this harsh new tax and gathering together will show Keir Starmer how poor his judgement is. I would also urge people to sign our petition at stopthefarmtax.com,”
“It was good to round off the day talking with local farmer, Cllr Claudine Russell, her husband Tristan and their family, who travelled up to Parliament from Marden to support the rally”, she added.
Earlier this month Helen Grant MP wrote to the Secretary of State for Defra to raise her concerns with the cruel changes to inheritance Tax, stating that these measures will “jeopardise the sustainability of the rural economy and undermine efforts towards greater self-sufficiency”
