Gideon Amos supports protesting farmers

Gideon Amos, MP for Taunton and Wellington, met farmers from his constituency in London today (Tuesday) as they joined protests over the government’s inheritance tax plans.

 

And he called for action to protect family farms from having to be sold off.

 

Under changes announced in the Budget, farmers and agricultural landowners – previously exempt from paying inheritance tax – will, from April 2026, be subject to a 20 per cent levy on assets above £1 million.

 

An estimated 10,000 took part in the protests and, afterwards, Mr Amos said: “It’s completely unjust to hit smaller farms with a massive tax hike so soon after farmers have been let down by government underspending the agriculture budget over the past three years by a staggering £358million.

 

“Farms are also facing increased wages, higher National Insurance costs and, following Brexit, the ending of the Basic Payments Scheme which will now accelerate thanks to the recent Budget.

 

“Most family farms are not super rich businesses. They’re not billionaires buying up land just to avoid paying tax, something which should certainly be tackled.

 

“Some might have a big asset value but are often cash-poor and will be unable to raise the money needed to pay the new tax without breaking up and selling off parts of their farms.

 

“I, and the Liberal Democrats, are determined to oppose this tax on small, family farms, and it was good to reassure local farmers visiting me in Parliament today of my support.

 

“Their visit underlined for me how all these new taxes are putting off a new generation who are worried land will go out of production, reducing our food security.

 

“Government may say only 28% of farms will be affected, but there are serious concerns about how those figures were reached.

 

“The National Farmers’ Union says it’s more like two thirds of farms which will be hit with this higher tax.

“We need the more sustainable food production that many farms have moved towards. The government loading costs onto small farms will put all that at risk.”