Labour MPs have joined Tory colleagues in calling on the Government to rethink tax changes (Image: Getty)
A Labour civil war is threatening to erupt as Sir Keir Starmer's own MPs have joined the Tories in criticising government plans for farmers to pay inheritance tax.
The Treasury claims family farms will be protected from its proposal to impose the tax on farms worth more than ￡1million. Chancellor Rachel Reeves' plan has led some farmers to accuse Labour of being out of touch with rural communities.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Nigel Farage tells farmers to take protests to Labour-held rural constituencies
1405 Comments
Angry farmers warn Keir Starmer 'don't bite hand that feeds you' amid food inflation fears
40 Comments
Furious farmer tells GMB - 'Rachel Reeves has given my family ￡1m tax bill'
31 Comments
Farmers have 'nothing to lose' as contingency plans drawn up over food shortage fears
141 Comments
Mathew Wright blames farmers for Rachel Reeves' hated Inheritance Tax grab
247 Comments
Labour minister squirms in BBC clash as she's pressed over 'war with farmers'
364 Comments
Rachel Reeves 'refusing to engage' amid furious protests against Labour's family farm tax
9 Comments
POLL: Should Labour U-turn on farmer inheritance tax?
213 Comments
Labour's 'war on farmers' sparks protest over inheritance tax and food security risks
52 Comments
Labour's tax policy puts the future of family farms at risk
12 Comments
Why are farmers protesting? The inheritance tax row threatening to bring UK to standstill
29 Comments
Kemi Badenoch vows to reverse Labour's tax raid on farmers - 'the message is clear!'
129 Comments
Labour slumps to embarrassing by-election loss near Jeremy Clarkson's home amid tax row
260 Comments
Monty Don fans throw support behind Gardeners' World star after 'devastating' post
Comments
Labour's hypocrisy laid bare as Cabinet Secretary admits U-turn on farm inheritance tax
691 Comments
Farmers 'stabbed in back' by Labour's 'cruel' tax raid to unleash fury at protest
35 Comments
Kemi Badenoch warns Labour's ‘cruel' tax on farmers will destroy farming in Britain
290 Comments
Keir Starmer claims 'first job was on a farm' as massive protest erupts
48 Comments
Farmer strike threat sparks panic in Labour Party with food shortage plans drawn up
319 Comments
Farmer protests LIVE: Huge tractor convoy masses as Keir Starmer faces huge backlash
1294 Comments
Nigel Farage tells farmers to take protests to Labour-held rural constituencies
1405 Comments
Angry farmers warn Keir Starmer 'don't bite hand that feeds you' amid food inflation fears
40 Comments
Furious farmer tells GMB - 'Rachel Reeves has given my family ￡1m tax bill'
31 Comments
Farmers have 'nothing to lose' as contingency plans drawn up over food shortage fears
141 Comments
Mathew Wright blames farmers for Rachel Reeves' hated Inheritance Tax grab
247 Comments
Labour minister squirms in BBC clash as she's pressed over 'war with farmers'
364 Comments
Rachel Reeves 'refusing to engage' amid furious protests against Labour's family farm tax
9 Comments
POLL: Should Labour U-turn on farmer inheritance tax?
213 Comments
Labour's 'war on farmers' sparks protest over inheritance tax and food security risks
52 Comments
Labour's tax policy puts the future of family farms at risk
12 Comments
Why are farmers protesting? The inheritance tax row threatening to bring UK to standstill
29 Comments
Kemi Badenoch vows to reverse Labour's tax raid on farmers - 'the message is clear!'
129 Comments
Labour slumps to embarrassing by-election loss near Jeremy Clarkson's home amid tax row
260 Comments
Monty Don fans throw support behind Gardeners' World star after 'devastating' post
Comments
Labour's hypocrisy laid bare as Cabinet Secretary admits U-turn on farm inheritance tax
691 Comments
Farmers 'stabbed in back' by Labour's 'cruel' tax raid to unleash fury at protest
35 Comments
Kemi Badenoch warns Labour's ‘cruel' tax on farmers will destroy farming in Britain
290 Comments
Keir Starmer claims 'first job was on a farm' as massive protest erupts
48 Comments
Farmer strike threat sparks panic in Labour Party with food shortage plans drawn up
319 Comments
Farmer protests LIVE: Huge tractor convoy masses as Keir Starmer faces huge backlash
1294 Comments
Nigel Farage tells farmers to take protests to Labour-held rural constituencies
1405 Comments
Angry farmers warn Keir Starmer 'don't bite hand that feeds you' amid food inflation fears
40 Comments
Furious farmer tells GMB - 'Rachel Reeves has given my family ￡1m tax bill'
31 Comments
Farmers have 'nothing to lose' as contingency plans drawn up over food shortage fears
141 Comments
Mathew Wright blames farmers for Rachel Reeves' hated Inheritance Tax grab
247 Comments
Labour minister squirms in BBC clash as she's pressed over 'war with farmers'
364 Comments
Rachel Reeves 'refusing to engage' amid furious protests against Labour's family farm tax
9 Comments
Andrew McNae, the Labour MP for Rossendale and Darwen, said it was unclear whether farmers would be protected as he addressed a lobby event organised by the National Farmers Union (NFU).
He suggested changes might be required for the controversial plan, which would see an effective tax rate of 20% on assets above the ￡1m threshold.
Fellow Labour MP, Steve Witherden, who represents Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, called on the Treasury to make its modelling on the policy's impact public.
READ MORE Nigel Farage tells farmers to take protests to Labour-held rural constituencies
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
Thousands of farmers descended on Whitehall to protest the changes (Image: Getty)
He told the Telegraph backbench MPs would have an opportunity to "feed into" the debate about the changes.
Terry Jermy, Labour MP for South Norfolk, called for reassurances over the scale of the policy's impact and confirmation the Government's figures are correct.
Some 27% of estates claiming agricultural property relief (APR) were above the ￡1m threshold in 2021/2022, according to the Treasury.
This suggests nearly three-quarters of farms would not fall within the scope of the charges. The Treasury says about 500 estates a year are expected to pay inheritance tax under the changes.
But the NFU says farm businesses have also qualified separately for business property relief, which can cover things such as harvested grain and livestock, machinery and diversified businesses such as camping on a farmer's field.
Now the two are combined, with a single ￡1m allowance before inheritance tax is levied, more farms could be in scope.
Don't miss...
Starmer warned he is making a 'tragic mistake' by kowtowing to China [REPORT]
Kemi Badenoch warns Labour’s ‘cruel’ tax on farmers will destroy farming in UK [LATEST]
Labour's hypocrisy laid bare as MP admits screeching U-turn on family farm tax [REVEALED]
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
Environment Secretary Steve Reed admitted the changes will be 'unsettling' (Image: Getty)
Trending
The NFU points to figures from the Environment Department showing 66% of farm businesses in England have a net value of more than ￡1m.
It maintains that while farms may have a high nominal asset value - the value of their land and business assets - the returns from farming are often very low, so farming families may not have the reserves to pay for inheritance tax liabilities without selling off assets.
However, Environment Secretary Steve Reed has claimed many farmers protesting the changes are wrong about the policy.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Nigel Farage tells farmers to take protests to Labour-held rural constituencies
1405 Comments
Angry farmers warn Keir Starmer 'don't bite hand that feeds you' amid food inflation fears
40 Comments
Furious farmer tells GMB - 'Rachel Reeves has given my family ￡1m tax bill'
31 Comments
Farmers have 'nothing to lose' as contingency plans drawn up over food shortage fears
141 Comments
Mathew Wright blames farmers for Rachel Reeves' hated Inheritance Tax grab
247 Comments
Labour minister squirms in BBC clash as she's pressed over 'war with farmers'
364 Comments
Rachel Reeves 'refusing to engage' amid furious protests against Labour's family farm tax
9 Comments
POLL: Should Labour U-turn on farmer inheritance tax?
213 Comments
Labour's 'war on farmers' sparks protest over inheritance tax and food security risks
52 Comments
Labour's tax policy puts the future of family farms at risk
12 Comments
Why are farmers protesting? The inheritance tax row threatening to bring UK to standstill
29 Comments
Kemi Badenoch vows to reverse Labour's tax raid on farmers - 'the message is clear!'
129 Comments
Labour slumps to embarrassing by-election loss near Jeremy Clarkson's home amid tax row
260 Comments
Monty Don fans throw support behind Gardeners' World star after 'devastating' post
Comments
Labour's hypocrisy laid bare as Cabinet Secretary admits U-turn on farm inheritance tax
691 Comments
Farmers 'stabbed in back' by Labour's 'cruel' tax raid to unleash fury at protest
35 Comments
Kemi Badenoch warns Labour's ‘cruel' tax on farmers will destroy farming in Britain
290 Comments
Keir Starmer claims 'first job was on a farm' as massive protest erupts
48 Comments
Farmer strike threat sparks panic in Labour Party with food shortage plans drawn up
319 Comments
Farmer protests LIVE: Huge tractor convoy masses as Keir Starmer faces huge backlash
1294 Comments
Nigel Farage tells farmers to take protests to Labour-held rural constituencies
1405 Comments
Angry farmers warn Keir Starmer 'don't bite hand that feeds you' amid food inflation fears
40 Comments
Furious farmer tells GMB - 'Rachel Reeves has given my family ￡1m tax bill'
31 Comments
Farmers have 'nothing to lose' as contingency plans drawn up over food shortage fears
141 Comments
Mathew Wright blames farmers for Rachel Reeves' hated Inheritance Tax grab
247 Comments
Labour minister squirms in BBC clash as she's pressed over 'war with farmers'
364 Comments
Rachel Reeves 'refusing to engage' amid furious protests against Labour's family farm tax
9 Comments
POLL: Should Labour U-turn on farmer inheritance tax?
213 Comments
Labour's 'war on farmers' sparks protest over inheritance tax and food security risks
52 Comments
Labour's tax policy puts the future of family farms at risk
12 Comments
Why are farmers protesting? The inheritance tax row threatening to bring UK to standstill
29 Comments
Kemi Badenoch vows to reverse Labour's tax raid on farmers - 'the message is clear!'
129 Comments
Labour slumps to embarrassing by-election loss near Jeremy Clarkson's home amid tax row
260 Comments
Monty Don fans throw support behind Gardeners' World star after 'devastating' post
Comments
Labour's hypocrisy laid bare as Cabinet Secretary admits U-turn on farm inheritance tax
691 Comments
Farmers 'stabbed in back' by Labour's 'cruel' tax raid to unleash fury at protest
35 Comments
Kemi Badenoch warns Labour's ‘cruel' tax on farmers will destroy farming in Britain
290 Comments
Keir Starmer claims 'first job was on a farm' as massive protest erupts
48 Comments
Farmer strike threat sparks panic in Labour Party with food shortage plans drawn up
319 Comments
Farmer protests LIVE: Huge tractor convoy masses as Keir Starmer faces huge backlash
1294 Comments
Nigel Farage tells farmers to take protests to Labour-held rural constituencies
1405 Comments
Angry farmers warn Keir Starmer 'don't bite hand that feeds you' amid food inflation fears
40 Comments
Furious farmer tells GMB - 'Rachel Reeves has given my family ￡1m tax bill'
31 Comments
Farmers have 'nothing to lose' as contingency plans drawn up over food shortage fears
141 Comments
Mathew Wright blames farmers for Rachel Reeves' hated Inheritance Tax grab
247 Comments
Labour minister squirms in BBC clash as she's pressed over 'war with farmers'
364 Comments
Rachel Reeves 'refusing to engage' amid furious protests against Labour's family farm tax
9 Comments
He appeared before MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee on Tuesday (November 19) as thousands of farmers marched on Westminster demanding a U-turn.
Mr Reed admitted the changes would be "unsettling" and said he was "listening" to concerns, but insisted most farmers would not face a hike.
The Government has said the change will come into effect in April 2026 and the tax can be paid in instalments over 10 years interest free.