Adam Hart
Guest Reporter
The National Farming Union President Tom Bradshaw has revealed how Rachel Reeves is 'refusing to engage' with the farming community over her farm tax raid in an emotional Defra select committee meeting this morning.
Bradshaw told the committee the Treasury had not discussed the measure with the farming community at all and that a degree of consultation would have been useful before such an impactful measure was announced.
The farming champion also challenged the objective of Reeves' inheritance tax raid, expressing his belief if it was to clamp down on tax avoiders then he and other rural leaders could have helped design a policy that would affect less family farms.
Asked what discussions the government had had with the NFU before the budget, he said: "The only official discussion we had were the comments from the Secretary of State (Steve Reed- then shadow Environment Secretary) that there would be no changes to Agricultural Property Relief.
"We got wind something was being discussed Wednesday before the budget and at that point we went public with our campaign to write to MPs.
"But there was no formal consultation at all."
The committee then asked: "What communications have you had since the 30th?"
Bradshaw replied: "There have been multiple conversations and I don't think it would be a good use of time to go through all of them.
"The first meeting I had with SoS Steve Reed and James Murray was Monday after the budget.
"At that point I asked James what was the question the Treasury asked themselves when designing the policy [the rationale for the policy, be that cracking down on tax evasion or raising funds].
"I said if we know the question we can help you find the solution. But until we know that it's impossible for us to help you.
"It appeared at that point there is no question."
Commentators have been quick to highlight that Bradshaw's words hint Reeves' move is an ideologically motivated attack to try and redistribute wealth from what Labour perceives to be a affluent section of society.
Bradshaw continued: "If it was a tax loophole, then we would all work together to try and close the loophole. But without knowing what they want to do it's impossible to help.
"So we've had multiple meetings up to the Prime Minister. But the Chancellor so far has refused to engage."
On concerns Reeves’ death duties would hit older farmers who might die before they could make use of the seven-year gifting rule, Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi asked what mental health impacts the hike might have.
Mr Bradshaw replied: “It's very clear the examples I'm being sent through are often middle aged farmers concerned about their parents or parent who doesn't believe they have seven years to be able to plan.
“It’s an awful, awful, unacceptable position that those individuals have been put in.
“Somebody said earlier on they haven't taken advice. That's completely wrong. A lot of these people have spent the very best money on tax planning advice.
“And until the Chancellor announced her budget, the correct advice was to keep your they keep the farm until death.
“Now they don't have any way to plan through that. And yet they've given everything to producing the food for this country in that period, post-Second World War.
“They really deserve a lot more respect than they have been given by the changes that are proposed.”
Mr Bradshaw then highlighted the most severe of all impacts Reeves’ tax could have.
“And I am going to talk about the most severe human impacts, which we believe could end up being triggered by this.
“Those people who genuinely are either in ill health or don't believe that they are going to be able to live for seven years, may well decide that they shouldn't be here on April 26th.
“No policy should ever be published that has that as an unintended side effect.
“Now, what I'm being told by some people is, well, money doesn't trigger this, and I may agree with them that money doesn't trigger it.
“But it’s not money. This is a lifetime of work. It's the heritage.”
Bradshaw was then unable speaking as he was moved to tears thinking about farmers who may take their lives to beat Reeves’ tax changes.
Antoniazzi was visibly moved and the room was silent for a few seconds, the gravity of Mr Bradshaw’s warning hitting home.
The chair then asked if anyone else would like to come in on this point. Victoria Vyvyan, President of the Country Land and Business Association, warned there was a "terrible potential for suicide".
Vyvyan added: “But you know, you've had it in your discussions in the House recently about assisted dying. The fact of the matter is, the nicest, most forbearing, most family conscious people will go, ‘oh, you could do without me’ whereas the real brutes never think that.”
It comes as thousands of farmers gridlock central London blasting their horns and calling Reeves a "grave robber".
It also comes as Keir Starmer, after being challenged at PMQs on the farm tax, insisted the vast majority would not be affected.
Defra’s line to all GB News’s media requests on this issue has been met with the same quote.
“Our commitment to farmers remains steadfast – we have committed £5 billion to the farming budget over two years, including more money than ever for sustainable food production, and we are developing a 25-year farming roadmap, focusing on how to make the sector more profitable in the decades to come.
“Our reform to Agricultural and Business Property Relief will impact around 500 estates a year. For these estates, inheritance tax will be at half the rate paid by others, with 10 years to pay the liability back interest free. This is a fair and balanced approach which fixes the public services we all rely on."
If you or someone you know needs help, you can call the Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year 116 123.
You can also drop MIND, the mental health charity, an email on mind.org.uk or call them on 0300 123 3393
Find Out More...
Bradshaw told the committee the Treasury had not discussed the measure with the farming community at all and that a degree of consultation would have been useful before such an impactful measure was announced.
The farming champion also challenged the objective of Reeves' inheritance tax raid, expressing his belief if it was to clamp down on tax avoiders then he and other rural leaders could have helped design a policy that would affect less family farms.
Asked what discussions the government had had with the NFU before the budget, he said: "The only official discussion we had were the comments from the Secretary of State (Steve Reed- then shadow Environment Secretary) that there would be no changes to Agricultural Property Relief.
"We got wind something was being discussed Wednesday before the budget and at that point we went public with our campaign to write to MPs.
"But there was no formal consultation at all."
The committee then asked: "What communications have you had since the 30th?"
Bradshaw replied: "There have been multiple conversations and I don't think it would be a good use of time to go through all of them.
"The first meeting I had with SoS Steve Reed and James Murray was Monday after the budget.
"At that point I asked James what was the question the Treasury asked themselves when designing the policy [the rationale for the policy, be that cracking down on tax evasion or raising funds].
"I said if we know the question we can help you find the solution. But until we know that it's impossible for us to help you.
"It appeared at that point there is no question."
Commentators have been quick to highlight that Bradshaw's words hint Reeves' move is an ideologically motivated attack to try and redistribute wealth from what Labour perceives to be a affluent section of society.
Bradshaw continued: "If it was a tax loophole, then we would all work together to try and close the loophole. But without knowing what they want to do it's impossible to help.
"So we've had multiple meetings up to the Prime Minister. But the Chancellor so far has refused to engage."
On concerns Reeves’ death duties would hit older farmers who might die before they could make use of the seven-year gifting rule, Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi asked what mental health impacts the hike might have.
Mr Bradshaw replied: “It's very clear the examples I'm being sent through are often middle aged farmers concerned about their parents or parent who doesn't believe they have seven years to be able to plan.
“It’s an awful, awful, unacceptable position that those individuals have been put in.
“Somebody said earlier on they haven't taken advice. That's completely wrong. A lot of these people have spent the very best money on tax planning advice.
“And until the Chancellor announced her budget, the correct advice was to keep your they keep the farm until death.
“Now they don't have any way to plan through that. And yet they've given everything to producing the food for this country in that period, post-Second World War.
“They really deserve a lot more respect than they have been given by the changes that are proposed.”
Mr Bradshaw then highlighted the most severe of all impacts Reeves’ tax could have.
“And I am going to talk about the most severe human impacts, which we believe could end up being triggered by this.
“Those people who genuinely are either in ill health or don't believe that they are going to be able to live for seven years, may well decide that they shouldn't be here on April 26th.
“No policy should ever be published that has that as an unintended side effect.
“Now, what I'm being told by some people is, well, money doesn't trigger this, and I may agree with them that money doesn't trigger it.
“But it’s not money. This is a lifetime of work. It's the heritage.”
Bradshaw was then unable speaking as he was moved to tears thinking about farmers who may take their lives to beat Reeves’ tax changes.
Antoniazzi was visibly moved and the room was silent for a few seconds, the gravity of Mr Bradshaw’s warning hitting home.
The chair then asked if anyone else would like to come in on this point. Victoria Vyvyan, President of the Country Land and Business Association, warned there was a "terrible potential for suicide".
Vyvyan added: “But you know, you've had it in your discussions in the House recently about assisted dying. The fact of the matter is, the nicest, most forbearing, most family conscious people will go, ‘oh, you could do without me’ whereas the real brutes never think that.”
It comes as thousands of farmers gridlock central London blasting their horns and calling Reeves a "grave robber".
It also comes as Keir Starmer, after being challenged at PMQs on the farm tax, insisted the vast majority would not be affected.
Defra’s line to all GB News’s media requests on this issue has been met with the same quote.
“Our commitment to farmers remains steadfast – we have committed £5 billion to the farming budget over two years, including more money than ever for sustainable food production, and we are developing a 25-year farming roadmap, focusing on how to make the sector more profitable in the decades to come.
“Our reform to Agricultural and Business Property Relief will impact around 500 estates a year. For these estates, inheritance tax will be at half the rate paid by others, with 10 years to pay the liability back interest free. This is a fair and balanced approach which fixes the public services we all rely on."
If you or someone you know needs help, you can call the Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year 116 123.
You can also drop MIND, the mental health charity, an email on mind.org.uk or call them on 0300 123 3393
Find Out More...