NFU responds to Mirror column on the family farm tax

To the editor,

Is Mr. Maguire really calling the farmers protesting in Llandudno on Saturday “tax-dodging landowners”?

First of all, the government hasn’t closed a “tax loophole”, as he claims. This was a policy specifically designed to protect our food producers by enabling farm businesses to pass on their family farm without having to break them up or sell off parts of the business to pay a tax bill.

Without this relief, the viability of our family farms is under significant threat.

Had he taken the time to speak with the farming families he would have seen that they are the “working people” the government speak of — out in all weathers, seven days a week, producing food for the nation.

It is a sad truth; British farmers make less than 1% profit. They don’t have the money in the bank to pay this proposed family farm tax. These changes could force them to sell their farms, jeopardising food production and may increase supermarket prices.

Mr. Maguire also overlooks that the Treasury figures significantly underestimate the number of family farms affected. Defra, the government department responsible for food policy, has figures which suggest 66% of our family farms could be impacted.

I do agree this isn’t an urban-rural issue, nor should it be a political one. It’s about a bad policy based on the wrong evidence that will hinder farmers ability to feed the nation. That is why the family farm tax must be over-turned.

Tom Bradshaw
NFU President