NFU holds day of unity to pressure government on IHT plans

The NFU has staged a nationwide day of unity, intensifying pressure on the UK government to reconsider proposed changes to inheritance tax (IHT) that could severely impact family farms.

Towns across England, Wales and Northern Ireland staged events to thank the public for their support for British farmers. However, planned events in Scotland were postponed as a result of Storm Eowyn.

Saturday 25 January, which saw close to 100 events across the country, was an opportunity to underline the NFU’s commitment to not stop until the plans have been consulted on and properly scrutinised.

See also: OBR casts doubt on government’s farm IHT figures

The proposed changes, announced by chancellor Rachel Reeves in the Autumn Budget, would impose a 20% levy on agricultural property and assets worth over £1m from April 2026.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw, who joined an event in Cambridge, said: “Today has been about engaging with the public and helping them understand the challenges we are facing and thanking them for their support. 

“We will keep fighting this awful tax and hopefully, eventually, the chancellor will listen.” 

Organisers of an event at Humber Bridge said more than 75 tractors crossed the bridge in a show of unity.

“It’s not just farmers that this is going to affect. It’s all the businesses that support farming, that supply into farming, that are customers of farming. It’s a whole nation’s food security,” pig farmer Anna Longthorp, who helped organise Saturday’s events, told the BBC.

NFU members at Chester © Gareth Jones/NFU

A farmer at the Worthing event © Diensen Pamben/NFU

Richard Bramley, an NFU Yorkshire farmer-member who helped organise an event in Selby, said: “Selby is a food hub – great farms, great produce, lots of businesses which rely on farms being profitable and investing.

“There are four major mills and a large food manufacturer.

“It was so disappointing that our Labour MP and Labour county mayor Keir Mather didn’t even respond to the invitation. It would have been a real eye opener if he attended.”

Events in Wales

NFU Cymru arranged events in Cardiff, Pembrokeshire, Monmouthshire, Aberystwyth, Bangor, Lampeter, Cardigan and met with Montgomeryshire MP Steve Witherden, as well as Brecon and Radnor David Chadwick MP and Jane Dodds MS.

Ceredigion beef and sheep farmer Leisia Tudor, who took part in the Aberystwyth event, told Farmers Weekly: “When you look at the profit a farm makes, not the assets they hold, the return on capital is minimal.

“Chances are the land will have to be sold off to possibly bigger companies who will use it to off-set their carbon emissions. That land won’t get used for food production.”

Northern Ireland rallies

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) held seven tractor runs across Northern Ireland.

UFU president William Irvine said: “Together, we will make sure this issue is front and centre in the lead-up to the UK government’s spring statement in March 2025.

“Farmers are the backbone of this nation, and we will not be silenced.”

Wider industry support

On Friday 24 January, the NFU delivered a petition to 10 Downing Street with more than 270,00 signatures on behalf of the four UK farming unions, urging government to ditch its devastating family farm tax.

Several major retailers, including Morrisons, Asda, Lidl, Aldi, Waitrose and the Co-op have backed calls for a rethink and consultation with the agricultural sector before the changes are implemented.

Last week, fiscal watchdog the Office of Budget Responsibility raised concerns over the controversial plan to introduce farm IHT, suggesting that the proposed policy may not generate the revenue expected.