Labour’s ‘breathtaking arrogance’ on farm tax 

Scottish Conservative rural affairs spokesman Tim Eagle MSP has called on the UK Labour Government to “urgently listen” to a cross-party committee report condemning its proposed changes to agricultural inheritance tax, dubbed the family farm tax. 

Brought in as part of last October’s Autumn Budget, the proposed policy would tighten Agricultural Property Relief, meaning a 20% tax would be imposed on inherited agricultural assets valued over £1m. The changes come into force in April 2026. 

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, which includes seven Labour MPs, has slammed the policy, citing a lack of consultation, poor communication and an absence of impact assessment. In a report published on 16 May, the committee recommended delaying implementation until April 2027. 

Tim Eagle said: “This is a damning report into how Labour introduced [its] plans for a cruel family farm tax. Labour ministers have displayed breathtaking arrogance in ignoring farmers’ repeated protests. The policy is a betrayal of our rural communities.” 

With rising concern over food security and the future of family-run farms, the pressure is mounting on Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer to abandon the measure altogether, before it causes lasting damage to the UK’s agricultural backbone.