Henley and Thame MP calls on government to reverse the ‘family farm tax’

MP for Henley and Thame, Freddie van Mierlo is calling on the government to reverse their ‘family farm tax’ echoing opinions voiced by his fellow Lib Dem MPs at a rural affairs debate in Parliament on the 11th November.

At the recent Budget the Chancellor announced plans to cut the level of inheritance tax relief for farmers which has been dubbed the ‘family farm tax’. Freddie said that the proposals could “ring the death knell” for farmers in Henley and Thame and called on the Chancellor to scrap the plans or risk “a lost generation of local farmers”.

Analysis by the Liberal Democrats has found that 96 farms in Henley and Thame could be at risk of being affected by the changes to inheritance tax relief.

Liberal Democrat MP for Henley and Thame, Freddie van Mierlo said:

“People in rural areas like here in Henley and Thame have been clobbered through years of Conservative neglect and economic vandalism.

“That is what makes the government’s decision to push ahead with their disastrous family farm tax so inexplicable. Farmers are deeply worried that these proposals could ring the death knell for family farming in this rural constituency. 

“The Chancellor needs to urgently reverse these plans or risk a lost generation of local farmers. I will fight these changes every step of the way and continue to pressure the government to get our farmers the support they deserve.”