The Prime Minister insisted he “totally disagreed” with comments by John McTernan (Image: Carl Court/PA Wire)
The Prime Minister insisted he “totally disagreed” with comments by Former political aide John McTernan that that the Government should do battle with farmers in the way Margaret Thatcher did with striking miners.
Former home secretary James Cleverly described Mr McTernan as a Labour insider “saying the quiet bit out loud”.
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But Sir Keir distanced himself from the comments when asked if they reflected his thoughts on farmers.
Speaking to reporters in Baku while attending the Cop29 conference on climate change, the Prime Minister said: “No, I totally disagree.
“I’m absolutely committed to supporting our farmers.
“I said that before the election and I say it after the election.
“That is why, in our Budget… I was very pleased that we are investing ￡5 billion of our budget over the next two years into farming.
“That is really important for our farmers and I will do everything I can to support them because I think it is important that they not only prosper but prosper well into the future.
“So I totally disagree with those comments.”
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Some farmers have pledged to take militant action because of Labour’s inheritance tax raid at the budget last month.
Changes to relief announced at the Budget mean farmers will have to pay tax on any property or land they pass on to their descendants worth more than ￡1 million.
A rate of 20% of anything above this will be charged, which the Treasury has claimed will affect roughly a quarter of farmers.
The Daily Express has launched the Save Britain’s Family Farms crusade which demands a U-turn.
The National Farmers’ Union has warned that plans to roll together allowances for both IHT relief and business property relief could leave far more agricultural businesses exposed to the tax.
Farmers are planning a mass lobby event in London on November 19 against the changes, and a splinter protest event is also expected to take place.
Speaking about the protests, Mr McTernan said: “I am personally in favour if farmers want to go on the streets, we can do what Margaret Thatcher did to the miners.”
He steered away from whether this would mean a heavy-handed policing response but added: “It is an industry we could do without.”
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“If people are so upset that they want to go on the streets and spray slurry on them, then we don’t need the small farmers,” added Mr McTernan, who plays no role in the current Government.
It is 40 years since the 1984-85 miners’ strike, in which the Thatcher government and the National Union of Miners engaged in a year-long battle over attempts to close collieries up and down the country.
Pit closures and job losses which resulted from the strike continue to have an impact on so-called left behind, formerly industrialised areas of the UK.
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A furious Labour source said: “This is shockingly irresponsible nonsense from someone who does not represent the Government."
Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe said: “To say John McTernan's comments are disgusting would be an understatement. He is advocating for shutting down family farms, leaving hundreds of thousands unemployed, and bringing further poverty to our country. People like this should be nowhere near power.
“An attack on farming is an attack on Great Britain. Our farmers are the backbone of this nation, yet Labour’s disregard for their livelihoods is nothing short of disgraceful.”