Keir Starmer asked about cutting visit short due to farmer protest

       Farmers have slammed Sir Keir Starmer for suggesting the public face a choice between better living standards or wanting them to keep their inheritance tax break.

       The Prime Minister was forced to leave a visit to a housing development in Buckinghamshire on Thursday because of a mass protest by farmers against Rachel Reeves’s changes.

       He insisted the Budget had to stabilise the UK’s finances with “tough but right decisions” on National Insurance contributions for businesses and ending the inheritance tax break for farmers.

       Get the latest politics news straight to your phone Join us on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

       Sir Keir added: “These are political choices, but what you can’t have is interest rates coming down, the growth we need in the economy, your waiting lists coming down, and maintain the tax break for farmers.

       “People watching this will understand that that is a choice. They will know what they would prefer.

       “Do they want their waiting lists to come down, do they want their mortgages to come down, the economy to start working for everyone?

       “That is what we are trying to achieve.

       “Or do we want to give tax breaks for farmers? We can’t have both.”

       Trending

       SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

       We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

       The Chancellor announced in October that from April 2026, combined agricultural and business property assets up to ￡1million will still receive 100% relief but anything above that will be taxed at an effective rate of 20%.

       The Daily Express’s Save Britain’s Family Farms crusade has demanded a U-turn.

       Mo Metcalf-Fisher, of the Countryside Alliance, said: “However miffed the PM may be by a couple of horns going off during a presser, this response is disingenuous.

       “No one seriously believes the disastrous family farm tax has anything to do with helping get NHS waiting list times down.

       “Please don’t pit people against each other.”

       Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi broke ranks to call on the Government to pause its inheritance tax raid on farmers.

       The MP for Gower said: "I support the National Farmers Union's call for a pause on the government's proposed changes to inheritance tax.

       "We need time to gather information to determine the full impact the changes will have to family farms in Wales."