More than 250,000 members of the public support overturning the ‘Family Farm Tax’

22 November 2024

A big group of NFU members at the mass lobby holding holding a sign saying Stop the Family Farm Tax

More than 250,000 people have backed the NFU’s campaign to reverse the family farm tax, signalling to the government that the public disagrees with the cruel, ill-thought-out policy.

The NFU campaign attracted an increase of 50,000 signatures over just two days in the lead-up to and after the NFU’s mass lobby of MPs in Westminster on 19 November.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “I want to send a heartfelt thank you to the public from the whole farming community for backing our campaign to overturn the family farm tax. At a time when farmers believe government has lied to them and let them down badly, British farmers and growers are heartened to know that they have the support of so many members of the public.

“Earlier on in the year the public decided farming was the second most trusted profession in Britain after only nursing. This milestone of support is further confirmation that the public values British farmers and growers for all they provide and believes they deserve more than this badly designed and poorly targeted policy that could decimate working family farms across Britain.  

“Ministers must rethink the changes to Agriculture Property Relief and Business Property Relief and protect the people they say they want to. If they don’t, they risk reducing our food security and potential food price rises for shoppers as the cost of producing food increases.”

More information:

Between Monday 18 November and Wednesday 20 November, the NFU’s petition increased from 200,000 to 250,000 signatures.

NFU Farm Favourability Survey by OnePoll of 2,000 adults in England & Wales between 3 and 9 of May 2024 showed 74% of the public had a favourable view of farmers and growers. The results are discussed here: Farming the most valued profession behind only nursing, says public – NFUonline

The NFU petition to overturn the family farm tax can be found here: Stop the Family Farm Tax