The government’s imposition of 20% inheritance tax threatens to bankrupt farmers, wreck the rural economy, put up the price of food and cause immeasurable environmental damage. Most farmers earn very little despite working 60-80 hours a week. So, every time a farmer dies – their family will have to sell 20% of the farmland just to pay inheritance tax.
At the moment half of all farmland sold goes to property speculators who want to build large housing estates. So, each generation we will have to import more and more food from abroad. And because farms have been passed from one generation to the next, hedgerows have often existed for centuries – and so are incredibly important habitats. However, the first thing developers will do is rip up the hedgerows – as they are more likely to get planning permission without them.
So, if anyone thinks putting inheritance tax on farmers won’t affect you personally – let me invite you to come to Mersea and look from the hill above the Strood at the glorious countryside towards Abberton/Langenhoe and Fingringhoe; or perhaps start at Tiptree and as you come down the hill experience the glorious view towards the Backwater estuary… now imagine 20% of that covered in housing, then a generation later another 20%....
We have inherited this area as a trust to conserve and pass onto future generations. That’s why this ill-thought-out tax has to be reversed. Kemi Badenoch has promised to do so if the Conservatives win the next general election. But it would be much better if the present Labour government could just admit they got it wrong, so we didn’t have to wait 4 more years to do so.
I’m not a farmer – but please sign the National Farmers Union petition to ‘stop the family farm tax’ (https://tinyurl.com/ew9nwbut)
Dr Martin Parsons
Colchester City Councillor for Mersea and Pyefleet
At the moment half of all farmland sold goes to property speculators who want to build large housing estates. So, each generation we will have to import more and more food from abroad. And because farms have been passed from one generation to the next, hedgerows have often existed for centuries – and so are incredibly important habitats. However, the first thing developers will do is rip up the hedgerows – as they are more likely to get planning permission without them.
So, if anyone thinks putting inheritance tax on farmers won’t affect you personally – let me invite you to come to Mersea and look from the hill above the Strood at the glorious countryside towards Abberton/Langenhoe and Fingringhoe; or perhaps start at Tiptree and as you come down the hill experience the glorious view towards the Backwater estuary… now imagine 20% of that covered in housing, then a generation later another 20%....
We have inherited this area as a trust to conserve and pass onto future generations. That’s why this ill-thought-out tax has to be reversed. Kemi Badenoch has promised to do so if the Conservatives win the next general election. But it would be much better if the present Labour government could just admit they got it wrong, so we didn’t have to wait 4 more years to do so.
I’m not a farmer – but please sign the National Farmers Union petition to ‘stop the family farm tax’ (https://tinyurl.com/ew9nwbut)
Dr Martin Parsons
Colchester City Councillor for Mersea and Pyefleet
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