Target the tax-dodgers, not family farms

Liberal Democrat MP for Winchester, Danny Chambers, has slammed the Government for refusing to listen to farmers, following reports that the Chancellor does not plan to amend or repeal the damaging Family Farm Tax in next month’s Budget.

Danny Chambers has supported the rural community in his campaign to reverse the tax since it was first announced. Despite being warned that their policy could lead to a lost generation of farmers, the Government has not budged.

During meetings with the NFU and farmers from across the Winchester and Meon Valley areas, Danny Chambers said he heard countless stories of farmers dealing with a triple whammy of challenges to their finances - severe weather patterns due to climate change reducing crop yields, trade disruption from conflicts around the world and unpredictable tariffs increasing the price of imported inputs, and now tax rises to add to the pressure.

Danny Chambers, Liberal Democrat MP for Winchester said: 

“Food inflation is still high and we've just come through a record dry summer affecting crop yields. Many farmers are fighting hard to deal with all sorts of pressure on their finances right now. This Government decision is a kick in the teeth for British farmers across the Meon Valley who are the backbone of our rural community.

“There are those super-rich individuals who exploit farmland as a way to avoid tax and have no interest in farming. It’s right to find ways to stop that abuse and ensure they pay their fair share of tax, but it’s mostly hard-working family farms being hit here, not the super-rich who can easily find other ways to avoid tax.

“Farmers, more than anyone, want to crack down on billionaires and multi-millionaires exploiting their industry to abuse tax avoidance loopholes, while driving up costs for real farmers, but this tax is failing to hit the right target. It'll just force real family farmers out of business allowing even more land to be bought up on the cheap by big corporations and tax avoiders.

“This is a missed opportunity from the Chancellor to use the Budget to show her support and finally protect family farms after one of the worst harvests on record.

“As your Liberal Democrat MP, I will continue to lead the charge against this unfair tax hike, to protect family farms across Winchester and the Meon Valley who are being taken for granted.”