A former Labour MP has suggested that the farmers' opposition to the party's inheritance tax changes carries less weight because "not a lot of these people vote Labour."
Speaking on GB News, Siôn Simon acknowledged a significant "disconnect" between Labour and rural communities.
Thousands of farmers with tractors packed onto Whitehall yesterday, bringing central London to a standstill for the third time in four months.
The mass demonstration gathered outside Parliament to voice opposition to Chancellor Rachel Reeves's tax changes.
Simon said: "Some farmers are going to pay more money for this and there'll be a small number of farmers who really are adversely impacted and who will be a problem.
“Farming is such an emotional thing. It is so much more than a business, which is what this is all about, and why farmers have this very, very favourable tax treatment in the first place.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
“The thing that always comes to my mind in these discussions is everything that you say about the farmers, it's true of the family of four generations who owned a steel fabrication plant in West Bromwich, except they already are paying massively more.
“I think, in retrospect, even though I do think it is fair to make the tax treatment of farmers still massively more favourable than all other small businesses, but not quite as favourable as it was.
“I do think that is fair, but I think it was a mistake. But the amount of money that it raises is not worth the extent to which it reinforces that sense that Labour is a party of the city that doesn't really understand the countryside.
“I was a Labour MP for cities, but I live in a farming community where my family is from.
"I can walk to family farms owned by cousins in two different directions in 20 minutes, and I understand how people feel, and you're absolutely right that there is a disconnect.
“There is a disconnect. The problem for the people in the countryside and the problem for farmers in that respect is that not a lot of these people voted Labour, or not a lot of these people usually vote Labour, and they don't have the capital in the bank today when it comes to that relationship.
“I think that Labour, for a long time now, does have a problem.
"Because it represents cities and heavy industries, and because of all the history of where it's come from, because it doesn't have a history of the countryside, it doesn't really understand what's important to country people.”
Labour's inheritance tax changes, announced in October's budget, would impose a 20 per cent tax on farms worth more than £1million, or £3m in some circumstances.
The controversial reforms are due to come into effect in April 2026.
Farmers have warned the tax changes threaten Britain's food security, as many would be forced to sell land to afford the tax bills.
Find Out More...
Speaking on GB News, Siôn Simon acknowledged a significant "disconnect" between Labour and rural communities.
Thousands of farmers with tractors packed onto Whitehall yesterday, bringing central London to a standstill for the third time in four months.
The mass demonstration gathered outside Parliament to voice opposition to Chancellor Rachel Reeves's tax changes.
Simon said: "Some farmers are going to pay more money for this and there'll be a small number of farmers who really are adversely impacted and who will be a problem.
“Farming is such an emotional thing. It is so much more than a business, which is what this is all about, and why farmers have this very, very favourable tax treatment in the first place.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- Keir Starmer issued stark warning after farmer’s latest Westminster protest: ‘I would be worried!’
- Labour accused of 'not listening' despite THIRD tractor protest by farmers: 'Our hands are tied!'
- Bev Turner slaps head in frustration at ex-Labour adviser’s inheritance tax argument: ‘There it is’
“The thing that always comes to my mind in these discussions is everything that you say about the farmers, it's true of the family of four generations who owned a steel fabrication plant in West Bromwich, except they already are paying massively more.
“I think, in retrospect, even though I do think it is fair to make the tax treatment of farmers still massively more favourable than all other small businesses, but not quite as favourable as it was.
“I do think that is fair, but I think it was a mistake. But the amount of money that it raises is not worth the extent to which it reinforces that sense that Labour is a party of the city that doesn't really understand the countryside.
“I was a Labour MP for cities, but I live in a farming community where my family is from.
"I can walk to family farms owned by cousins in two different directions in 20 minutes, and I understand how people feel, and you're absolutely right that there is a disconnect.
“There is a disconnect. The problem for the people in the countryside and the problem for farmers in that respect is that not a lot of these people voted Labour, or not a lot of these people usually vote Labour, and they don't have the capital in the bank today when it comes to that relationship.
“I think that Labour, for a long time now, does have a problem.
"Because it represents cities and heavy industries, and because of all the history of where it's come from, because it doesn't have a history of the countryside, it doesn't really understand what's important to country people.”
Labour's inheritance tax changes, announced in October's budget, would impose a 20 per cent tax on farms worth more than £1million, or £3m in some circumstances.
The controversial reforms are due to come into effect in April 2026.
Farmers have warned the tax changes threaten Britain's food security, as many would be forced to sell land to afford the tax bills.
Find Out More...