Harrogate MP's relief as Government waters down 'cruel' tax on farmers
The Government’s U-turn on the ‘Farm Tax’ has been welcomed by leaders in Harrogate and across the region.
Tom Gordon, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, who opposed the ‘Farm Tax’ from the beginning, has welcomed the decision to amend proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR), meaning that farmers’ inheritance tax threshold will be raised to £2.5 million.
“This is a welcome and important U-turn,” said the Lib Dem MP.
"Farmers across Harrogate and Knaresborough were clear with me from the outset that the original proposals would have put family farms at risk and placed unfair pressure on the next generation.
"Harrogate is home to the Great Yorkshire Show, England’s largest agricultural show, and that reflects just how central farming and rural life are to our local identity.
David Skaith, Harrogate-born Labour Mayor of York and North Yorkshire: "This is a welcome decision and will end months of anxiety experienced by many farmers across York and North Yorkshire.
"I have made clear the impacts, identified in our farm finance review, would have on farmers and rural businesses in our region.
"The announcement is a huge step towards addressing those concerns.”
The Government’s change of heart follows months of sustained pressure from farmers, growers, the NFU and MPs across Parliament, who warned the original proposals risked doing serious harm to family-run farms and rural communities.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “We have spent the past 14 months campaigning and lobbying to try and mitigate the worst impacts of the proposals.
“The original changes to APR and BPR in the Finance Bill resulted in a pernicious and cruel tax, trapping the most elderly and vulnerable people and their families in the eye of the storm.
“I am thankful common sense has prevailed and the Government has listened.
"I have had two very constructive meetings with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and dozens of conversations with Defra Secretary of State Emma Reynolds.
"She has played a key role underlining the human impact of this tax.”
"I’d like to thank the Prime Minister for recognising the policy needed amending.”