Environment Secretary Steve Reed is facing into a stormy reception today as he refuses to scrap inheritance tax on family farms.
Mr Reed is set to be greeted by protests outside the Oxford Farming conference, where he will deliver a speech promising a ‘new deal’ for the agricultural sector.
It came as Elon Musk backed farmers campaigning against Labour’s inheritance tax changes. Commenting on images of tractors being driven through Beverley, East Yorkshire as part of the ongoing protests against the 20 per cent levy, the world’s richest man posted on X: ‘Good for the farmers.’
In his address today, Mr Reed is set to say that the government will make it easier for farmers to erect buildings on their land – and to put up wind turbines and solar panels. He will say the moves will help them diversify their businesses with farm shops and holiday lets.
Other expected announcements include a move to monitor how much UK food produce is bought by public sector institutions such as government bodies, hospitals, prisons and schools.
But his failure to back down on the IHT issue – which has already triggered a mass protest in Westminster last year – is likely to provoke a fresh wave of anger.
In his speech, Mr Reed will say: ‘The primary purpose of farming has – and always will be – to produce the food that feeds the nation.‘Too many policymakers in Whitehall lose sight of that fact.
‘This Government is putting food production firmly back on the agenda.’
Environment Secretary Steve Reed (pictured) is facing into a stormy reception today as he refuses to scrap inheritance tax on family farms
Farming leaders criticised the speech yesterday
Mr Reed is set to be greeted by protests outside the Oxford Farming conference, where he will deliver a speech promising a ‘new deal’ for the agricultural sector
He added: ‘We will work in partnership to achieve our vision for the farming sector. First, a sector whose primary purpose is food production.
‘Secondly, a sector where farmers can access diverse income streams to make a fair profit and ensure their business remains viable in times of challenge.
‘And thirdly, a sector which supports farmers to restore nature – the foundations of sustainable food production.
‘It is only through pursuing all three that we will achieve long-term food security.’
But farming leaders criticised the speech yesterday.
Clive Bailye, a founder of the Farming Forum website and one of the organisers of the mass protest in Westminster, said: ‘Mr Reed’s speech will fall very flat. Nobody was expecting him to say anything on inheritance tax.
‘But these announcements aren’t anything new. He’s at the wrong conference, he should be at the energy producing conference.
He added: ‘Nobody is going to invest in farm buildings with the threat of inheritance tax hanging over them.’
