𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Last Thursday, across the despatch box from the current Defra Secretary, I read a letter from an elderly farmer. The letter contained a single, chilling question for the Prime Minister: by which date did she and her husband need to die to avoid the breakup of their farm to pay for Labour’s family farm tax?

As has happened repeatedly in the last 14 months, ministers dismissed farmers’ concerns out of hand. They did not want to know the devastating human cost that their policy was already having on farmers. A few days later, and Labour have snuck out this announcement. They have now admitted what they knew all along: the policy defended by the Prime Minister just last week as “a sensible reform” is unfair and unworkable.

This partial U-turn is thanks to a relentless campaign by farmers, supported strongly by the Express. The Conservatives have backed them from day one, and we were the first to say this tax had to go entirely.

Everything this Government has done until today has been to create misery in our countryside.

Farms are closing at record levels, business confidence and investment has plummeted, and the Batters Report into profitability this week found that many farmers are worrying about the viability of their businesses.

Four times in the House of Commons, the Government have voted against Conservative proposals to axe the tax. They have refused to answer countless questions and letters, or to meet farmers. Farming families won’t forgive or forget the stress they have been put through by this Government.

The Conservatives will continue to fight both inside and outside Parliament to scrap the family farm and family business taxes in their entirety.

And if Labour refuses to listen, we make a solemn pledge to scrap these vindictive taxes when we are back in government.

Victoria Atkins is Shadow Environment Secretary