The Autumn Budget 2024 – a timeline of NFU lobbying

Track our progress on the fallout from the Autumn Budget 2024.


The family farm tax must be overturned.

Show your support and call for the government to overturn the family farm tax.

Add your name

November 2024

NFU meets with Defra and Treasury to discuss Inheritance Tax

NFU President Tom Bradshaw meets Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed and Treasury Minister James Murray to outline the impact of Inheritance Tax changes on family farms and national food security.

November 2024

Public backs NFU campaign to overturn family farm tax

On 1 November, the NFU launches the campaign urging the government to think again following its Autumn Budget announcement.

NFU members, British farmers and the public joined forces to call on the government to reverse its decision on the APR (Agricultural Property Relief), with more than 120,000 people adding their names to the campaign action to stop the family farm tax.

October 2024

Parliament debates the agriculture budget

Following NFU lobbying, MPs from across the House of Commons call on the government to deliver an increased agriculture budget after an opposition debate day raises the importance of farming to Britain’s food security, environment and economic growth.

September 2024

NFU launches 'write to your MP' campaign action

NFU President Tom Bradshaw brands newly released Defra figures as “unacceptable”, after they showed a £130 million yearly underspend against plans between April 2023 and March 2024.

The NFU had repeatedly shared its concerns about this issue.

On Back British Farming Day, the NFU calls for the government to deliver a renewed and enhanced multi-annual agriculture budget of £5.6 billion in the Autumn Budget on 30 October.

The NFU hosts a fringe event at the Labour Party Conference with Food Security and Rural Affairs Minister Daniel Zeichner on the panel. We reiterate our call for an increased budget.

September 2024

Defra Secretary commits to making farming's case to Treasury

At the NFU's Back British Farming Day parliamentary reception, Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed pledges to make farming’s case to the Treasury.

July 2024

‘Food security is our shared mission’, Farming Minister tells NFU MP reception

NFU holds first parliamentary reception after the State Opening of the new parliament. NFU President Tom Bradshaw pushes Minister Daniel Zeichner on the budget.

July 2024

NFU has first meeting with new Defra Secretary

NFU President Tom Bradshaw meets new Defra Secretary Steve Reed.

After the meeting Tom says: “Steve Reed has just outlined his plan for change and it’s good to hear that food security, the environment and flood management are all focus areas. These now need to be underpinned by a budget that will enable the necessary investment.”

June 2024

NFU meets with parliamentary candidates

In the run up to the election the NFU meets with almost 400 candidates, ensuring our message on the budget is heard.

May 2024

General election announced

The government announces a general election to take place on 4 July. The NFU continues to make the case for an agriculture budget that delivers for British farming and growing. 

May 2024

No. 10 hosts second Farm to Fork Summit

The NFU has secured major wins and explored ways to restore farmers’ confidence at the second Farm to Fork summit.

The summit coincides with several announcements which represent major wins for the NFU.

December 2023

NFU launches its general election manifesto

The NFU launches its Farming for Britain’s Future key policy asks ahead of an anticipated general election. These asks contain research from The Andersons Centre that explains why a robust agriculture budget must deliver for the stability and productivity of farming alongside the environment.

September 2023

NFU calls for a pause of farm payment reductions

The NFU calls on ministers to halt any further reduction to existing farm payments – due to fall by £720 million in this year alone – until delivery problems with SFI are solved.

The NFU was the only organisation to recognise the issues and call publicly for this pause.

May 2023

No. 10 hosts Farm to Fork Summit

Following significant NFU lobbying, No. 10 Downing Street holds a food summit to take action on a raft of NFU policy asks and 'champion UK food and drink'.

December 2022

NFU calls for action on supply chain emergency

The NFU calls an emergency press conference as farmers and growers say they are being unfairly treated and supply chains struggle to keep shelves stocked.

January 2022

Public Accounts Committee report highlights ELMs concerns

The NFU warns government that the Public Accounts Committee’s report into ELMs should serve as a wake up call for Defra, and urges it to carry out an impact assessment.

October 2021

Urgent review needed of BPS reductions in 2022/23

The NFU calls for an urgent review of Defra’s future farming programme for England, including the postponement of BPS reductions for 2022 and 2023.

November 2020

The government’s Agriculture Act 2020 receives Royal Assent

The NFU responds to Defra’s Agricultural Transition Roadmap and asks: “Can Ministers be sure that new schemes will be available at scale to deliver redirected BPS payments?”

July 2020

Food standards become priority as one million sign NFU petition

After an NFU food standards petition is signed by more than one million people, the government agrees to a new Trade and Agriculture Commission.


Ask us a question about this page

Once you have submitted your query someone from NFU CallFirst will contact you. If needed, your query will then be passed to the appropriate NFU policy team.

You have 0 characters remaining.

By completing the form with your details on this page, you are agreeing to have this information sent to the NFU for the purposes of contacting you regarding your enquiry. Please take time to read the NFU’s Privacy Policy if you require further information.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.