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Misery for farmers as Labour confirms it WON’T U-turn on Rachel Reeves’ inheritance tax raid

Labour has confirmed that the Government will not U-turn on Rachel Reeves’ wildly controversial inheritance tax raid on farmers.

Farming minister Dame Angela Eagle announced today that the Treasury “isn’t going to move” as speculation begins to mount on a potential reversal of the “tractor tax”.

Since its first announcement in the Chancellor’s 2024 October Budget, family farmers up and down the nation have rallied against the tax.

And, with the next Budget creeping ever closer, farmers had hoped that smaller estates might be excluded in an amended version of the tax hike.

The original hope was that the 20 per cent tax on agricultural estates would be raised from £1million to £5million, and £10million for married couples.

For almost a year now, the farming community has been up in arms about its future as the new taxes could leave their farms unviable after families would be forced to sell of land, livestock and equipment to foot the bill.

“Despite some of the speculation in the press, there’s no likelihood that will happen,” Dame Angela clarified, nipping any rumours in the bud.

“The announcements have been made and the situation will be as it was announced.

“But remember that three-quarters of estates will continue to pay no inheritance tax at all, while the remaining quarter will pay half of the inheritance tax that most people pay.”

“I’m afraid there aren’t going to be any changes with respect to the announcement that were made previously about inheritance tax, in this instance,” she told BBC’s Farming Today podcast.

“We have been in discussions, the Treasury have made their announcements and they aren’t going to move.”

Hitting out at Labour’s refusal to budge, deputy chief of Reform UK blasted: “This Labour Government doesn’t care about British farmers, British food or our country’s food security.

Rachel Reeves

BUDGET 2025 – READ MORE:

“It’s no surprise that they are pressing on with the family farms tax, which has brought the farming sector to its knees,” he told The Express.

“Inheritance tax as a whole is little more than a death tax on grieving families. Reform UK would put an end to this form of double taxation on farmers and families altogether.”

The farmers’ fight against the policy has been a long-fought battle.

Since its announcement, the community has banded together to protest the “death tax” with farmers flocking to Westminster – with their tractors.

Digital ID and inheritance tax protesters

Earlier this year, Labour managed to U-turn on major government policy three times already.

In January, Sir Keir Starmer’s administration backtracked on the winter fuel payment that impacted million of British pensioners.

Five or so months later in June, Labour spun around on their refusal to hold a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal gripping the nation.

Later in July, his party decided to U-turn on their decision to cut welfare spending after enduring the efforts of persistent campaigners and unhappy MPs.

LP Staff Writers

Writers at Lord’s Press come from a range of professional backgrounds, including history, diplomacy, heraldry, and public administration. Many publish anonymously or under initials—a practice that reflects the publication’s long-standing emphasis on discretion and editorial objectivity. While they bring expertise in European nobility, protocol, and archival research, their role is not to opine, but to document. Their focus remains on accuracy, historical integrity, and the preservation of events and individuals whose significance might otherwise go unrecorded.

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