NFU president warns PM of serious impact of ‘family farm tax’

NFU president Tom Bradshaw has met privately with prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to discuss mounting concerns over government policies affecting agriculture, especially controversial plans to impose inheritance tax on UK farms, dubbed a “family farm tax” by the union.

The meeting, held at the PM’s invitation at 10 Downing St on Monday 25 November, covered a range of critical topics, including planned inheritance tax (IHT) changes, food security, the domestic market, public procurement, trade standards, and the future of British farming.

While the NFU maintained confidentiality on the detailed discussions, Mr Bradshaw confirmed that the conversation addressed the potential impact of alterations to agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR) on family farms.

See also: New NFU analysis diminishes Treasury estimates of IHT impact

Farmers Weekly understands that no Treasury officials were present at the meeting.

Last week, an estimated 13,000 farmers and their supporters descended on London to demonstrate their opposition to the government’s plans to introduce a 20% IHT on farm assets worth £1m or more from April 2026, fearing threats to the viability of family farms and food production.

Speaking in a vlog following the meeting, Mr Bradshaw talked up the significance of the opportunity to represent farmers’ interests directly to the PM.

“This afternoon, I had the privilege of being invited into 10 Downing Street by the prime minister,” he said. “We’ve been able to present our side of the discussion around what changes to APR and BPR are going to mean for you, your family, and your future.”

Mr Bradshaw said Sir Keir was “in listening mode” and expressed hope that the concerns raised would lead to meaningful action.

“When we talk about the very real human impacts, the viability of family farms, and the low returns from producing the country’s food, these are all conversations we’ve picked up this afternoon,” he noted.

In addition to tax reforms, Mr Bradshaw highlighted discussions on food security commitments, trade standards, and ensuring domestic markets are not undermined by imports.

He also pushed for comprehensive impact assessments on current policies, especially on farm IHT, to evaluate their effects on food production, environmental goals, and business sustainability.

“I welcome the prime minister asking to hear directly about farmers’ concerns, and I am grateful to him for taking the time to do so,” Mr Bradshaw said in a statement released after the meeting. “I hope we can work together towards a resolution on this issue.”

‘Government must act’

The farmer organisers behind the London Farming Rally welcomed the meeting between the NFU and the PM. But they told Farmers Weekly that the government must urgently reverse its industry-threatening tax.

Merseyside arable farmer Olly Harrison, one of the London Farming Rally organisers, said: “It’s positive news that the NFU has been able to have a meeting with the PM to voice the many concerns of the farming industry, especially around inheritance tax.

“There has been talk about making revisions to the policy, but I still feel we need a total reversal. Inheritance tax relief for farms is not a loophole; it’s there for a reason to enable farmers to produce quality British food at affordable prices for consumers.”  

But Lincolnshire farmer Andrew Ward, who also helped organise the London rally, promised no let-up in farmer activity while no solutions are on the table from government.

“Labour promised farmers pre-election that they would not introduce inheritance tax for farms. They have gone against their word, so we are not trusting the PM at this time,” he said.

“We will keep going with our campaign until they [the government] come up with the goods.”