A farming boss has insisted the industry must “demand evidence not ideology” when it comes to the Government’s decisions.
The sector has been in uproar over Labour’s inheritance tax raid from last year’s budget. The Treasury has estimated that 500 estates a year will be impacted by its changes to agricultural and business property reliefs but farming bodies have warned the true figure is much higher.
Gavin Lane, president of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), said: “This government has decided that Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief are ‘loopholes’ being exploited by wealthy individuals to avoid tax. Their ministers tell us repeatedly that they’re targeting those who buy farmland purely as a tax shelter, pricing out young farmers. They say only the wealthiest will be affected.
“They insist the vast majority of family businesses will be fine. But here’s what I believe is really happening. Whether through ideology, inexperience, or a fundamental misunderstanding of how family businesses work, this government is treating intergenerational asset transfer as a problem to be solved rather than the foundation of sustainable, long-term investment.”
He added: “We must continue to demand evidence not ideology. When policy is based on feelings rather than facts, we should call it out. When the science is unclear or still unfounded, we need to refuse to accept made-up answers. We must insist on rigorous, evidence-based policy-making.”
Mr Lane made the comments in front of Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds during the opening address of his body’s yearly conference on Thursday.
The fourth generation farmer said Labour through “ideology, inexperience or a fundamental misunderstanding is treating inter-generational land transfer as a “problem to be solved”.
Ms Reeves said that from April 2026, combined agricultural and business property assets up to £1million will still receive 100% relief but anything above that will be taxed at an effective rate of 20%.
Asset rich farmers who are cash poor fear they will have to sell off their land – making it unviable for food production – to foot the tax bill.
The Daily Express has campaigned for the Government to U-turn on its inheritance tax raid through the Save Britain’s Family Farms crusade.
Mr Lane told Ms Reynolds that rural communities do not feel listened to by the Government’s environment department.
Ms Reynolds said she was “sorry if that’s the way you feel” and said she “appreciates the engagement” from farmers and landowners.
She told the conference that the Government was supporting the nation’s farmers to drive growth – with rural Britain contributing £259 billion to the economy and supporting more than half a million businesses.
The Cabinet Minister said: “This Government sees the rural economy as fundamental to our growth mission. When rural Britain succeeds, the whole country succeeds.
“From food production to protecting nature, we are acting on our ambitions for a countryside where businesses flourish, good jobs are created, and our communities are strengthened.”
