Cllr Simon Eardley today voiced grave concerns over the Labour Party’s move to scrap Inheritance Tax protection for family farms, with a new inheritance tax structure that imposes a tax burden of at least £240,000 on the average English farm.
This decision threatens the livelihoods of over 70,000 farming families, many of which will be in the Chester North and Neston constituency where his Saughall & Mollington Ward is, damaging food security, rural communities, and nature recovery.
Commenting, Cllr Eardley said:
“Labour’s tax change announced this week in the budget will mean that farming families will face an inheritance tax bill on land and assets passed down to the next generation. This bill will be in the hundreds of thousands or even millions for larger family farms—strikes at the very heart of British agriculture, compromising our ability to produce food domestically, sustain rural economies, and continue vital environmental stewardship.
As family farms face potential closure or forced sales, the repercussions will extend to the country’s food security. At a time when Labour should be carrying on the work of the Conservative’s to bolster domestic food production, by investing in productivity this tax will undermine these efforts, risking reliance on imported produce that lacks the high standards of sustainability and quality upheld by British farmers.
The ripple effect of this policy will devastate rural communities, where family farms are not only economic cornerstones but also drivers of community life, local jobs, and social cohesion. Without protection from this tax, rural families may be unable to afford the burden, leading to farm closures and subsequent loss of rural jobs, schools, and services.
UK farms play a critical role in nature recovery, implementing environmental programs and land stewardship that contribute to biodiversity and the health of the countryside. Labour’s tax changes will jeopardise these efforts, putting more pressure on natural landscapes as family-run farms struggle to stay operational.”
As the son of a Cheshire dairy farmer, coming from a family who have farmed in our county for generations, I believe it is important now, more than ever, that we work to preserve the future of UK agriculture, protect rural communities, and secure our nation’s commitment to environmental recovery.”
