This Saturday (25th January) Cllr Steve Bowles visited Church Farm, Weston Turville to support the NFU Nation Day of Unity. This was a chance for members of the public to speak to farmers who are directly impacted by the Labour Government’s family farm tax which will be devastating for family farms across the UK.
If these changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) go ahead, farming families—already struggling with tight margins, rising costs, and extreme weather—will face an unbearable financial burden. The result could be devastating, threatening the future of UK food production at a time when many are already grappling with a cost-of-living crisis.
Cllr Steve Bowles said, “A huge thank you to Church Farm for making me feel so welcome and chatting in detail about the impact this will have on their farm that has been within their family for generations and others around the country in the exact same situation. Beyond the economic impact, this shift could alter the UK’s iconic rural landscapes forever. It is so important we do all we can to get the Labour government and our Labour MP to listen to us when we say it’s not just about farming; it’s about preserving the countryside we all cherish.”
Following a petition to Parliament reaching over 100,000 signatures the topic of “Don't change inheritance tax relief for working farms” will be debated in Westminster Hall on 10th February. Make sure you let your Labour MP, who agreed to impose this devastating tax, know your views by contacting her directly.
