UK Farmers Protest Planned Inheritance Tax Changes

Farmers and family-owned businesses in the UK are protesting government proposals to change inheritance tax, which will impose a 20% tax on inherited agricultural assets exceeding £1 million starting in April 2026. While the tax rate is reduced from the standard 40%, many argue it will deter future generations from inheriting family farms, as voiced by young farmers like Ellie Roberts. Critics, including farmer Andrew Long, warn that the changes could jeopardize food security and damage the agricultural sector, which has historically supported the country. The reforms have been described as a final straw for farmers already struggling with post-Brexit challenges and new subsidy schemes focused on conservation rather than crop production. Industry leaders, like Chris Hayward of the NMBS, emphasize that the changes impact not only farmers but also family-owned merchants with substantial business assets. Overall, there is widespread sentiment that the reforms fail to recognize the financial realities faced by farmers and their vital role in the economy.