Parliament to face 1,800 NFU members as union takes Budget lobby to London

The NFU mass Budget lobby outside Parliament on November 19th is ‘just start of the fight', with the union warning the lobby was now at ‘full capacity' and farmers and growers who have not already registered must not travel down to London, and instead wait for the next opportunity to make their voices heard.

The NFU said the policy changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief has been built on the 'wrong data' and the proposed changes 'will not deliver what it wants to achieve - it will not protect family farms, it will destroy them.'

Budget 

In a letter sent out to its members, the NFU said if the Government refuses to listen on November 19th and reverse changes to APR, the lobby will be followed by another event, at which farmers and growers will show ‘mass unity and strength' and demonstrate how they feel about changes to Inheritance Tax.

The NFU confirmed 1,800 NFU members had registered to attend the mass lobby in less than two weeks' time,  but warned they ‘cannot make it any larger', adding there were legal issues which meant they could not simply 'turn up in numbers' to Westminster.

Inheritance Tax 

In its letter, the union told members that they ‘cannot risk either member or public safety, or the loss of public support' that could come from what could be an illegal demonstration.

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It told members the mass lobby on November 19 was about ‘landing' the message that the current changes to APR and BPR does not work and the decision should be overturned, adding that Ministers must understand the industry will ‘not get tired' and farmers ‘will not go away'. The union warned the campaign will go on for as long as ‘this terrible decision stands'.

Government 

In the letter, the union added, ‘if they think we will give up, it just shows how much they do not understand farmers.'

The NFU stressed to members who have not been able to register for the lobby, not to think they have 'lost their chance to have their voice heard', adding 'be ready to march' if they do not listen to us after November 19. 

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The union urged its members to reach out to their own MP and tell them what the Inheritance Tax policy means for their family and the future of their farm business, stressing that the industry 'must keep the pressure up'.