On Monday, hundreds of farmers brought Westminster to a standstill with their tractors in protest at the government’s planned Family Farm Tax.
James joined the farmers to express his support for their campaign and his opposition to this damaging tax that will see the break-up of family farms.
Dubbed the “Family Farm Tax” changes the government announced in the Autumn Budget will terminate full Agricultural Property Relief (APR) from inheritance tax starting in April 2026. Under the new rules, full relief would apply only up to £1 million, with 50% relief thereafter for both APR and Business Property Relief (BPR) combined.
While the government claims this measure will affect only 27% of farms, the National Farmers Union (NFU) has warned that around 75% of commercial family farms will be above the £1 million threshold. In this spirit, it has since launched a campaign against the tax, gathering over 180,000 signatures from farmers and the public.
Following the announced changes, farmers across the country have begun organising tractor protests which, before Christmas, saw the streets of Westminster filled with tractors and farmers opposed to the government’s plans. This week, the campaign continued as James joined hundreds in streets of Westminster to voice their opposition to the plans.
Having been an active champion of North West Norfolk’s rural economy, James has been working closely with the NFU, meeting farmers in Parliament and across the constituency to hear their concerns - and to make sure their stories and voices are heard at the heart of government.
