Tim Bonner - CA chief executive: "Labour has indeed squandered the trust and support of a very significant part of the rural community"

"57% say they trust Labour less as a result of the Inheritance Tax decision and nearly a quarter of Labour voters say they are now unhappy about the way they voted at the General Election"

clock • 3 min read
Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, on the family farm tax debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday (December 4). "A debate designed to score party political points was never going to see new Labour MPs from rural constituencies leaving the party fold."
Image:

Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, on the family farm tax debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday (December 4). "A debate designed to score party political points was never going to see new Labour MPs from rural constituencies leaving the party fold."

My first reaction to the announcement in the Budget that the Government was going to impose Inheritance Tax on farmland was that it was bad politics. With one policy, Labour risked giving up all the...

To continue reading...

Already a member? Login for full access.

Login

New to Farmers Guardian? Register for 1 free article per week or become a member for unlimited access to essential farming news and insights.

article-img-580x358
Register for free Join Now

 

fg buy and sell
VIEW ADVERT

WATER ABSTRACTION LICENCES FOR SALE

WATER ABSTRACTION LICENCES FOR SALE

VIEW ADVERT
£POA
VIEW ADVERT

BNG National Habitat Bank Creation & Unit Sales

BNG National Habitat Bank Creation & Unit

VIEW ADVERT
£POA
VIEW ADVERT

FARM LOANS & RE-MORTGAGES

FARM LOANS & RE-MORTGAGES

VIEW ADVERT
£POA

More on Politics

EXCLUSIVE - Caroline Voaden: "How many more businesses will go under before this veterinary agreement gets over the line?"
Politics

EXCLUSIVE - Caroline Voaden: "How many more businesses will go under before this veterinary agreement gets over the line?"

South Devon MP Caroline Voaden writes on the Government's failure to sign a new veterinary agreement with the EU, how Brexit has made life more harder for agri-food businesses, and why rejoining the customs union would be beneficial for farmers

Caroline Voaden
clock 17 September 2025 • 3 min read
Agricultural chaplain helps to give farmers a voice on Inheritance Tax in Defra meeting
Politics

Agricultural chaplain helps to give farmers a voice on Inheritance Tax in Defra meeting

Graham Miles, agricultural chaplain for Suffolk, had helped to facilitate a meeting between farmers and Defra to discuss how Inheritance Tax had impacted the health and wellbeing of farmers

Chris Brayford
clock 17 September 2025 • 5 min read
Agricultural dealerships under pressure as farmers cutback investment due to Inheritance Tax changes
Politics

Agricultural dealerships under pressure as farmers cutback investment due to Inheritance Tax changes

Has proposed changes to Inheritance Tax placed farmers in a position where they simply do not have the capital nor the desire to invest on-farm due to economic uncertainty? What impact has this had on machinery dealerships like Rea Valley Tractors which recently entered administration?

Chris Brayford
clock 16 September 2025 • 6 min read