Cumbrian farmers attended a rally in London yesterday to protest against Government plans to change tax rules.
Around 13,000 farmers gathered in Westminster to object to the plans to introduce inheritance tax for agricultural land.
From April 2026, inherited agricultural assets worth over £1 million, which were previously exempt, will be liable to the tax at 20% – half the usual inheritance tax rate.
Other allowances could mean a couple who are married or in a civil partnership could pass on a farm worth as much as £3m.
Farmers say it will cripple the industry and see land worked on by generations of the same family being sold off.
Westmorland & Lonsdale MP Tim Farron met with Cumbrian farmers in London after the rally.
He discussed issues impacting rural communities as well as the farmers’ concerns about the tax change. He said it was estimated that the tax will be a cause of concern for the 440 farms in Westmorland and Lonsdale.
Farmers from Cumbria raised their concerns about the impact of the family farm tax with Tim.
The Government has also decided to accelerate the phase out of direct payments to farmers under the basic payment scheme – all recipients will see the base amount of their payments cut by 76% next year.
Mr Farron has called for the Government to urgently review this. By failing to do so, we are not giving farmers a fighting chance of sustainably and profitably feeding the nation and protecting our natural environment.
The Liberal Democrats are also calling for an additional £1 billion a year in support for farmers.
He said: “Family farmers across Cumbria have already been failed by a Conservative party that didn’t care about them – they can’t now be let down by a Labour government that doesn’t understand them.
“Liberal Democrats are standing up for rural communities, and calling for an axe to the family farm tax that would be disastrous for farmers across Westmorland and Lonsdale.
“British farmers are already battling with sky-high energy bills and botched overseas trade deals; and this hike will only make things much worse. I am urging the Government to change course.”
