‘You can see just how strong the feeling is’: MP backs farmers at John O’Groats rally
Jamie Stone has urged the UK government to recognise the impact its planned inheritance tax changes will have on rural communities – and think again.
The Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross attended Sunday’s tractor rally in John O’Groats as part of a nationwide series of demonstrations against the proposals.
More than 50 tractors made their way to Groats and an estimated 150 people gathered to draw attention to what they see as a threat to the viability of family farms.
Under the plans, from April 2026 the full 100 per cent relief from inheritance tax will be restricted to the first £1 million of combined agricultural and business property.
Above this amount, landowners will access 50 per cent relief from inheritance tax and will pay inheritance tax at a reduced effective rate up to 20 per cent relief, rather than the standard 40 per cent relief.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said the measures will only impact large landowners but farming unions have disputed this.
Mr Stone, who was brought up on a farm near Tain, said: “Coming from a farm myself, there is an emotional attachment to the ownership of the land – and if you have to sell the farm, that’s a catastrophe.
“Look at the huge numbers we’ve got here. This is John O’Groats, way up at the top of the UK, and you can see just how strong the feeling is.
“I think that the government is going to have to recognise this problem and raise the [£1m] threshold way, way up. They’re saying that only a few farmers are affected – that’s not what I’m hearing.
“There’s a whole heap of farmers and it could put them out of business. To sell the land is a travesty.
“These people are making food for the nation, it’s as simple as that, and they should be protected.
“The rural affairs committee is chaired by Alistair Carmichael [Lib Dem MP for Orkney and Shetland] and when they publish their report I think it will recommend putting it up.
“I know that new Labour MPs in rural constituencies are very worried about their political future and I think the pressure will start to come from that angle.”
Hamish Pottinger, who farmed Greenland Mains, Castletown, for many years, was among those hoping the rally would send out a strong message.
“It may help to a certain extent,” he said. “Our MP is here so hopefully he will take note of it all.
“It’s good that there is solidarity among the farming community.”
Greenland Mains has been in Mr Pottinger’s family since 1944, when he was three years old. It is now farmed by his son Michael.
One farmer, who didn’t want to be named, highlighted other costs facing those who are trying to make a living from the land. And he warned of the knock-on effects on rural businesses ranging from machinery dealerships to agricultural fencing suppliers.
“We’ve had a few depressions in farming and this one is going to take a couple of years before it really starts to bite,” he predicted.
“In Caithness we’re worse than being an island, with transport costs and distance.
“The nearest abattoir is at Dingwall and an awful lot of what we sell here is going down to the Borders. All these things are mounting up.”
The UK government has blamed a “£22 billion hole in the public finances” for the need to make “difficult decisions”.
In a joint statement in November, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and UK environment secretary Steve Reed said: “Farmers are the backbone of Britain, and we recognise the strength of feeling expressed by farming and rural communities in recent weeks.
“We are steadfast in our commitment to Britain’s farming industry because food security is national security.
“It’s why we are investing £5 billion into farming over the next two years – the largest amount ever directed towards sustainable food production, rural economic growth and nature’s recovery in our country’s history.
“But with public services crumbling and a £22 billion fiscal hole that this government inherited, we have taken difficult decisions.
“The reforms to agricultural property relief ensure that wealthier estates and the most valuable farms pay their fair share to invest in our schools and health services that farmers and families in rural communities rely on.”
The plans have been described as “deeply flawed” by farming unions.
