Fight will go on over family farm tax despite UK government’s ‘dismissive attitude’
A farming union leader has accused UK government representatives of choosing to “stick their heads in the sand” over controversial changes to inheritance tax – just over a fortnight after protests at John O’Groats and in many other parts of the country.
The recently elected NFU Scotland president, Andrew Connon, complained about the “dismissive attitude” of government ministers and Treasury officials at meetings in London on Tuesday but he vowed: “The fight goes on.”
Rallies were organised across Scotland at the start of this month, sending out a message to “Stop the Family Farm Tax”.
More than 50 tractors descended on John O’Groats, with an estimated 150 members of the agricultural community attending to express their concerns over what they see as a threat to the viability of family farms.
All the UK farm unions were represented at this week’s talks with the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, James Murray, and food security minister Daniel Zeichner. The unions wanted to discuss alternatives to the inheritance tax changes, due to take effect from April 2026, but said these were “dismissed without discussion”.
Mr Connon, attending on behalf of Scotland’s farmers and crofters, said: “The dismissive attitude of ministers and Treasury officials made it a deeply frustrating day and one that has left all involved very, very disappointed.
“Sticking to its own flawed evidence, the UK government and Treasury officials have grossly underestimated the number of hard-working family farms and crofts that will be undermined by their damaging taxation proposals.
“The fact that they choose to stick their heads in the sand and ignore the growing number of independent studies that highlight the real number of family farms and crofts that will be hit by their proposals is bewildering.
“The fight goes on. Without change, this government’s proposals for inheritance tax reforms will put growth and employment in the agricultural sector into reverse.
“Scotland’s wider rural economy will stall and fail and the contribution of farmers and crofters to the nation’s food security will be placed in jeopardy.
“Worse still, the UK government and Treasury unwillingness to engage and blank refusal to consider any compromise will continue to inflict mental anguish and turmoil on thousands of hard-working farming families up and down the country. The blame for that sits squarely on the UK government’s shoulders and they do not seem to care.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said the measures will only impact large landowners but farming unions have disputed this.
The John O’Groats tractor rally on February 2 was among a number of events organised by NFU Scotland and the other UK farming unions in response to the proposed inheritance tax measures. Under the plans, inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m, which were previously exempt, will be liable to the tax at 20 per cent from April next year.