Gideon Amos fighting 'tractor tax'

More than 100 farms in Taunton and Wellington could be hit by the “tractor tax” following the government’s decision to cut inheritance tax relief for farms.

 

Local MP Gideon Amos is this week calling on the government to scrap the tax hike.

 

The government has previously said that 27% of farms will be affected by the changes which cut the levels of inheritance tax relief for farmers.

 

Mr Amos said the move could ring the “death knell” for family farms in his constituency.

 

If 27% of farms in Taunton and Wellington were to be hit by these changes, it would affect 116 in total.

 

Mr Amos has called on the government to, instead, take up Liberal Democrat proposals to put forward an additional £1 billion a year in support for farmers.

 

He said: “The government must scrap this disastrous ‘tractor tax’ immediately or risk ringing the death knell for family farms in Taunton and Wellington.

 

“For years, our local farmers have been forced to endure botched trade deals and cuts to their incomes due to the Conservative Party’s shameful neglect of rural communities.

 

“The new government’s tax hike will come as yet another hammer blow for farmers.

 

“The Chancellor should urgently reverse course, scrap the ‘tractor tax’ and take up the Liberal Democrat proposals to give farmers an additional £1 billion a year in support.”