NFU urges Yorkshire MPs to show opposition to family farm tax by abstaining from vote

By abstaining, MPs will demonstrate to their constituents that they understand how damaging the tax will be for farming families and demonstrate to the government that they will not support the policy in its current state.

There has been mounting opposition to the family farm tax1. More than 275,000 members of the public have called on the government to make changes to the policy; trade associations representing 160,000 family businesses wrote to the Chancellor calling for reform to the policy; MPs from across the political divide have told the Chancellor about the impact it will have on the rural communities they represent; and independent tax experts have suggested changes to make it more targeted2.

NFU North regional board chair and farmer William Maughan said: “Tonight’s vote is an opportunity for northern Labour MPs to show that they truly back the working people of the countryside – farmers.

“Without change, the family farm tax will trap the most vulnerable members of our community, the elderly and terminally ill, with no ability to plan. It’s inhumane and it’s cruel.

“We’re urging Labour MPs to abstain from the vote and show their constituents, both farmers and the public, that they cannot support this pernicious policy in its current state. And we ask anyone in a Labour constituency who cares about Britain’s family farms to reach out to their MP with the same message.”

The vote isn’t binding but abstentions at this stage will clearly demonstrate that backbench MPs oppose the current policy, putting more pressure on the government to make amendments.