Amidst backlash over the Budget's abolition of inheritance tax exemptions for agricultural businesses, Environment Secretary Steve Reed defended the move, claiming farmers are primarily motivated by profit. This sparked heated debates in Parliament, with Tory counterpart Victoria Atkins highlighting the potential human cost, citing a farmer's suicide attributed to financial worries. Reed countered that the government is investing in mental health support and that most farmers will be unaffected by the changes.
The Environment Secretary insisted farmers are 'in it for the money' today as he defended the Budget inheritance tax raid. Steve Reed argued that farms are 'businesses that need to make a profit' during bruising clashes in the Commons. He also complained of 'posturing' about the risk of farmer suicides, after Tory counterpart Victoria Atkins said 'not everyone will be able to celebrate Christmas' this year.
The government has been struggling to contain anger about the decision to scrap the IHT exemption for agricultural businesses and assets worth more than £1million. Ministers have been refusing to rethink despite furious campaigners warning it will wreak havoc on farms that have been in families for generations. In the chamber today, Ms Atkins referred to an example of a farmer thought to have committed suicide 'because he feared becoming a financial burden to his family because of changes to inheritance tax'. Steve Reed argued that farms are 'businesses that need to make a profit' during bruising clashes in the Commons The government has been struggling to contain anger about the decision to scrap the the IHT exemption for agricultural businesses and assets worth more than £1million 'Not everyone will be able to celebrate Christmas,' she said. 'This is the human cost of the figures that the Secretary of State provides so casually. What does the Secretary of State say to that grieving family?' Mr Reed said: 'I send my heartfelt sympathies to that family but I think it is irresponsible in the extreme to seek to weaponise a personal tragedy of that kind in this way. Where there is mental ill health then there needs to be support for that, and this Government is investing in it. 'She knows from the last year for which data is available that the vast majority of claimants will pay absolutely nothing following the changes to APR.' He insisted that 12,000 farms had gone bust under the Conservative administration. 'I hear the posturing'
Inheritance Tax Agriculture Farmers Government Policy Mental Health
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘Vast majority’ of farmers will not be affected by inheritance tax change, says Environment SecretaryWe spoke to Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and asked him if he understood why farmers were protesting today if, as he says, so few are affected by the changes.
Read more »
Shropshire MP spotlights bathing quality of rivers as Environment Agency defends its positionA Shropshire MP has urged the Government to take action over “slipping” water quality standards.
Read more »
'We're fixing the foundations': Home Secretary defends return to neighbourhood policing after 'decimation'...Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has defended the government's decision to return to neighbourhood policing after 'decimation' under the Tories.
Read more »
‘Treasury doesn’t know value of farms’, says Conservative MPWe spoke to Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Victoria Atkins.
Read more »
Environment secretary Steve Reed tells farmers it is 'hard to be sorry for trying to make UK's economy work'The environment secretary was speaking publicly to farmers for the first time since Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced they would now have to pay inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1m.
Read more »
More flooding 'likely' this week as Storm Bert clean-up continuesEnvironment Secretary Steve Reed said its impacts 'should be less severe' than they were on Sunday and Monday morning
Read more »