Aphra Brandreth will rise the plight of farming communities in Westminster this week (Image: Manchester Evening News)
Labour's plans to slap inheritance tax on the sale of farms are a threat to mental health in already-struggling farming communities, the Government will be warned this week.
A special debate in the House of Commons will put the spotlight on stress and isolation faced by farmers and their families. This follows outcry at Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s plans to limit inheritance tax relief for farms from April 2026.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Furious farmers 'plot to stage sewage strike' over Rachel Reeves's inheritance tax raid
389 Comments
Rachel Reeves has broken a manifesto pledge - Kemi Badenoch must hold her to account
45 Comments
Farmers threaten 'militant' action over tractor tax threatening to destroy rural Britain
457 Comments
Labour blasted as farmers forced to sell 'hundreds of acres' over new inheritance tax raid
347 Comments
Rachel Reeves blasted for 'spiteful and senseless' tax raid on farmers at Budget
239 Comments
English Breakfast warning as cost of popular item could soar after new hated farmers tax
29 Comments
Nigel Farage delivers brutal 7-word warning to Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves
216 Comments
Rachel Reeves skewered when asked whether farmers should 'suck up' hated new tax
155 Comments
BBC Countryfile's Jules Hudson warns farmers will fight Labour inheritance tax raid
151 Comments
Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves prove themselves utterly inept toward key demographic
62 Comments
Lee Anderson's blistering vow to Rachel Reeves over decision that 'needs to be reversed'
484 Comments
Inheritance Tax changes leave family farmers ‘wondering if it's worth carrying on'
34 Comments
Fourth-generation farmer Bizza Walters warns of unaffordable tax bill
18 Comments
I'm a farmer facing ￡1m bill under Labour tax raid - it's not fair on my 18-month-old son
24 Comments
Pressure piles on Rachel Reeves over 'crippling' tax grab on hard-working family farmers
101 Comments
Raging farmers send 'militant action' warning as backlash soars over Labour tax grab
8 Comments
Lee Anderson erupts over new Labour tax raid as Reform's horrifying prediction comes true
280 Comments
Keir Starmer needs to wake up - he's missing one crucial truth about our farms
52 Comments
Furious farmers threaten to blockade ports and starve supermarkets amid death tax row
56 Comments
Rachel Reeves sent dire warning that her Budget decision is now a security risk
444 Comments
Furious farmers 'plot to stage sewage strike' over Rachel Reeves's inheritance tax raid
389 Comments
Rachel Reeves has broken a manifesto pledge - Kemi Badenoch must hold her to account
45 Comments
Farmers threaten 'militant' action over tractor tax threatening to destroy rural Britain
457 Comments
Labour blasted as farmers forced to sell 'hundreds of acres' over new inheritance tax raid
347 Comments
Rachel Reeves blasted for 'spiteful and senseless' tax raid on farmers at Budget
239 Comments
English Breakfast warning as cost of popular item could soar after new hated farmers tax
29 Comments
Nigel Farage delivers brutal 7-word warning to Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves
216 Comments
Rachel Reeves skewered when asked whether farmers should 'suck up' hated new tax
155 Comments
BBC Countryfile's Jules Hudson warns farmers will fight Labour inheritance tax raid
151 Comments
Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves prove themselves utterly inept toward key demographic
62 Comments
Lee Anderson's blistering vow to Rachel Reeves over decision that 'needs to be reversed'
484 Comments
Inheritance Tax changes leave family farmers ‘wondering if it's worth carrying on'
34 Comments
Fourth-generation farmer Bizza Walters warns of unaffordable tax bill
18 Comments
I'm a farmer facing ￡1m bill under Labour tax raid - it's not fair on my 18-month-old son
24 Comments
Pressure piles on Rachel Reeves over 'crippling' tax grab on hard-working family farmers
101 Comments
Raging farmers send 'militant action' warning as backlash soars over Labour tax grab
8 Comments
Lee Anderson erupts over new Labour tax raid as Reform's horrifying prediction comes true
280 Comments
Keir Starmer needs to wake up - he's missing one crucial truth about our farms
52 Comments
Furious farmers threaten to blockade ports and starve supermarkets amid death tax row
56 Comments
Rachel Reeves sent dire warning that her Budget decision is now a security risk
444 Comments
Furious farmers 'plot to stage sewage strike' over Rachel Reeves's inheritance tax raid
389 Comments
Rachel Reeves has broken a manifesto pledge - Kemi Badenoch must hold her to account
45 Comments
Farmers threaten 'militant' action over tractor tax threatening to destroy rural Britain
457 Comments
Labour blasted as farmers forced to sell 'hundreds of acres' over new inheritance tax raid
347 Comments
Rachel Reeves blasted for 'spiteful and senseless' tax raid on farmers at Budget
239 Comments
English Breakfast warning as cost of popular item could soar after new hated farmers tax
29 Comments
Nigel Farage delivers brutal 7-word warning to Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves
216 Comments
Newly-elected Conservative MP Aphra Brandreth said: “The decisions that ministers in Whitehall make have a direct impact on the mental health and wellbeing of people in our farming communities. At a time when the Government should be backing our farmers, they have decided to hit them with higher taxes and increased regulation.
“Labour committed at the election not to increase taxes on working people. Local farmers are some of the hardest working people I know.”
Ms Brandreth warned the changes risk “decimating the farming industry and seeing the end of the family farm”.
Don't miss...
Rachel Reeves under pressure to U-turn on 'crippling' tax grab on family farms [LATEST]
I'm a farmer facing ￡1m bill under Labour tax raid – it's not fair on my son [LATEST]
'Rachel Reeves broke a manifesto pledge in her attack on farming' [LATEST]
Furious farmers stage first protest over Labour inheritance tax raid [LATEST]
She said: “Decisions like these will do nothing to reduce the stress and improve the mental wellbeing of farming families.”
Her concerns are shared by the National Farmers’ Union.
The union’s Aled Jones, an eighth-generation farmer based in Caernarfon, said: “Farmers were already under an extreme amount of pressure, whether that be due to rising costs, the weather, regulation or policy changes to name but a few.
“There is no doubt that the decision by the Chancellor to introduce a tax on the passing on of our family farms to the next generation is a massive added burden and will leave many farmers with neither the means, confidence nor the incentive to invest in the future of their business.”
He said this has had an impact on the mental health of farming families across the country and urged anyone who is struggling to contact agencies that help.
Under the changes, the full 100 per cent relief from inheritance tax will be restricted to the first ￡1million of “combined agricultural and business property”.
Beyond this, landowners will be taxed at 20 per cent but this can be paid over a decade interest-free.
A mass protest by farmers is planned in London for November 19. Organisers want to stage the biggest food bank donation with home-grown produce.
Mo Metcalf-Fisher of the Countryside Alliance said: “We know that mental health is an unspoken illness that still remains a taboo subject for too many people in the countryside.
“The difficulties faced by farmers on a daily basis cannot be understated and this debate comes at a very significant time politically, when there is genuine anxiety among many farmers and their families about the future.”
Ms Brandreth said people in farming communities have a “just get on with it” attitude and work “incredibly long and unsociable” hours which makes it hard for them to talk about their struggles.
Don't miss...
BBC Countryfile’s Adam Henson flooded with support as he welcomes new addition [LATEST]
'Keir Starmer needs to wake up and realise he can't beat our farmers' [LATEST]
Jeremy Clarkson’s co-star gives crushing verdict on his farming skills [LATEST]
Kirstie Allsopp slams Rachel Reeves as she demands inheritance tax U-turn [LATEST]
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 MP wants mental health services to have less of a focus on “urban city centres” and warned that farming is facing a “recruitment crisis” which has led to low morale.
Other problems include “transport isolation” and lack of reliable mobile phone connections.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Furious farmers 'plot to stage sewage strike' over Rachel Reeves's inheritance tax raid
389 Comments
Rachel Reeves has broken a manifesto pledge - Kemi Badenoch must hold her to account
45 Comments
Farmers threaten 'militant' action over tractor tax threatening to destroy rural Britain
457 Comments
Labour blasted as farmers forced to sell 'hundreds of acres' over new inheritance tax raid
347 Comments
Rachel Reeves blasted for 'spiteful and senseless' tax raid on farmers at Budget
239 Comments
English Breakfast warning as cost of popular item could soar after new hated farmers tax
29 Comments
Nigel Farage delivers brutal 7-word warning to Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves
216 Comments
Rachel Reeves skewered when asked whether farmers should 'suck up' hated new tax
155 Comments
BBC Countryfile's Jules Hudson warns farmers will fight Labour inheritance tax raid
151 Comments
Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves prove themselves utterly inept toward key demographic
62 Comments
Lee Anderson's blistering vow to Rachel Reeves over decision that 'needs to be reversed'
484 Comments
Inheritance Tax changes leave family farmers ‘wondering if it's worth carrying on'
34 Comments
Fourth-generation farmer Bizza Walters warns of unaffordable tax bill
18 Comments
I'm a farmer facing ￡1m bill under Labour tax raid - it's not fair on my 18-month-old son
24 Comments
Pressure piles on Rachel Reeves over 'crippling' tax grab on hard-working family farmers
101 Comments
Raging farmers send 'militant action' warning as backlash soars over Labour tax grab
8 Comments
Lee Anderson erupts over new Labour tax raid as Reform's horrifying prediction comes true
280 Comments
Keir Starmer needs to wake up - he's missing one crucial truth about our farms
52 Comments
Furious farmers threaten to blockade ports and starve supermarkets amid death tax row
56 Comments
Rachel Reeves sent dire warning that her Budget decision is now a security risk
444 Comments
Furious farmers 'plot to stage sewage strike' over Rachel Reeves's inheritance tax raid
389 Comments
Rachel Reeves has broken a manifesto pledge - Kemi Badenoch must hold her to account
45 Comments
Farmers threaten 'militant' action over tractor tax threatening to destroy rural Britain
457 Comments
Labour blasted as farmers forced to sell 'hundreds of acres' over new inheritance tax raid
347 Comments
Rachel Reeves blasted for 'spiteful and senseless' tax raid on farmers at Budget
239 Comments
English Breakfast warning as cost of popular item could soar after new hated farmers tax
29 Comments
Nigel Farage delivers brutal 7-word warning to Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves
216 Comments
Rachel Reeves skewered when asked whether farmers should 'suck up' hated new tax
155 Comments
BBC Countryfile's Jules Hudson warns farmers will fight Labour inheritance tax raid
151 Comments
Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves prove themselves utterly inept toward key demographic
62 Comments
Lee Anderson's blistering vow to Rachel Reeves over decision that 'needs to be reversed'
484 Comments
Inheritance Tax changes leave family farmers ‘wondering if it's worth carrying on'
34 Comments
Fourth-generation farmer Bizza Walters warns of unaffordable tax bill
18 Comments
I'm a farmer facing ￡1m bill under Labour tax raid - it's not fair on my 18-month-old son
24 Comments
Pressure piles on Rachel Reeves over 'crippling' tax grab on hard-working family farmers
101 Comments
Raging farmers send 'militant action' warning as backlash soars over Labour tax grab
8 Comments
Lee Anderson erupts over new Labour tax raid as Reform's horrifying prediction comes true
280 Comments
Keir Starmer needs to wake up - he's missing one crucial truth about our farms
52 Comments
Furious farmers threaten to blockade ports and starve supermarkets amid death tax row
56 Comments
Rachel Reeves sent dire warning that her Budget decision is now a security risk
444 Comments
Furious farmers 'plot to stage sewage strike' over Rachel Reeves's inheritance tax raid
389 Comments
Rachel Reeves has broken a manifesto pledge - Kemi Badenoch must hold her to account
45 Comments
Farmers threaten 'militant' action over tractor tax threatening to destroy rural Britain
457 Comments
Labour blasted as farmers forced to sell 'hundreds of acres' over new inheritance tax raid
347 Comments
Rachel Reeves blasted for 'spiteful and senseless' tax raid on farmers at Budget
239 Comments
English Breakfast warning as cost of popular item could soar after new hated farmers tax
29 Comments
Nigel Farage delivers brutal 7-word warning to Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves
216 Comments
A Government spokeswoman said: “The government’s commitment to our farmers remains steadfast. It’s why we have committed ￡5billion to the farming budget over two years – more money than ever for sustainable food production.
“We understand concerns about changes to Agricultural Property Relief but the majority of those claiming relief will not be affected by these changes. They will be able to pass the family farm down to their children just as previous generations have always done.
“This is a fair and balanced approach that protects the family farm while also fixing the public services that we all rely on.”