AS the Hereford Times calls for the government to reconsider changes to inheritance tax on family farms, Herefordshire MP Ellie Chowns has spoken out about the policy.
In a letter to the HT, Chowns wrote: "This week I met with Herefordshire farmers in Parliament to listen to their concerns about the chancellor’s changes to inheritance tax.
"I sympathise with their concerns, and I too want to see a sustainable, thriving future for family farming in the UK."
Until now, farms have been exempt from inheritance tax. But in the autumn budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that this would apply to farms worth more than £1 million from April 2026.
Chowns said that while she can understand the reasons for the policy change, she thinks the numbers must be re-examined. She wrote: "I can understand why the chancellor has to raise funds for much-needed investment in vital public services like our NHS.
"And it’s widely recognised – including by farmers themselves – that there is a genuine problem of some wealthy individuals buying land simply to avoid inheritance tax.
"So it’s right that the government acts to close this loophole. But we also need to protect and support nature-friendly family farming.
The government needs to look again at the numbers. How is it that the Treasury and the National Farmers' Union have such wildly different figures? We urgently need an independent impact assessment of who will be affected and how.
"We also need a long-term government commitment to ensuring that family farming can provide a decent income. That’s why I’m campaigning for more investment in nature-friendly farming, and for action to protect farmers from excessive supermarket power.
"I’ve written to Rachel Reeves to make these points directly to the Government."
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What are your thoughts?
You can send a letter to the editor to have your say by clicking here.
Letters should not exceed 250 words and local issues take precedence.
The HT is asking readers to get behind our local farmers and write to Herefordshire’s MPs to put pressure on the government to reconsider the changes.
If you live in Hereford or South Herefordshire, write to Jesse Norman by emailing jesse.norman.mp@parliament.uk or via post: Suite 2a, Penn House, Broad Street, Hereford, HR4 9AP.
Norman has also commented on the changes, saying: "The government has got this very wrong. The budget has the potential to be ruinous for farmers if it is not corrected."
Ellie Chowns, North Herefordshire MP, has already written to the Treasury, but you can continue to share concerns about inheritance tax by emailing ellie.chowns.mp@parliament.uk.
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