Farmers from St Albans, Harpenden and Berkhamstead met with MP Daisy Cooper and Victoria Collins yesterday to discuss concerns they have about the government’s new family farm tax. 

The meeting took place at the National Farmers Union protest in Parliament Square, London, and saw both Ms Cooper and and Ms Collins joining farmers at the NFU rally outside, where they heard Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey deliver a speech urging the government to rethink the tax hike.

Victoria Collins MP, Stuart Roberts (Harpenden farmer, former NFU Deputy President and chair of the Liberal Democrat Food and Farming Working Group) and Daisy Cooper MPVictoria Collins MP, Stuart Roberts (Harpenden farmer, former NFU Deputy President and chair of the Liberal Democrat Food and Farming Working Group) and Daisy Cooper MP (Image: Herts Lib Dems) Daisy Cooper, MP for St Albans, said: “Our farmers, both locally and nationwide, are key to producing high quality locally grown food, protecting our natural environment, and guaranteeing our nation’s food security. 

“The government’s family farm tax is so badly thought through, it will hammer family farms whilst still leaving massive loopholes that can be exploited by the big corporations and mega-wealthy celebrities who buy land to reduce their tax burden.

 

“Evan a small farm on the outskirts of St Albans could be clobbered, leaving valuable farming land open to being bought up by developers.

“The message from farmers in my constituency is clear, this family farm tax is short-sighted and the government must think again.” 

The Liberal Democrats have strongly opposed the change to inheritance tax and are calling for the scheme to be axed, along with an additional £1 billion a year to help support farmers. 

The government plan to accelerate the phase-out of direct payments to farmers under the basic payment scheme - which will see the base amount of their payments cut by 76 per cent next year.

The two Lib Dem MPs have called for the government to review this. 

Victoria Collins, MP for Harpenden and Berkhamstead, said: “From meeting with local farmers in Parliament to discuss their concerns, I know how disastrous this family farm tax could be for them. 

“They’ve already suffered from the Conservatives’ botched trade deals alongside energy and feed prices soaring. This tax hike will be yet another blow.

“The government must rethink this family farm tax, and give farmers greater support as a vital part of our local and national economy.”