Local farmers speak out on inheritance tax charges

On the surface, it’s a scene that could be taken straight from Springwatch. Yet less than 200 miles away in London, thousands of farmers like the Lees took part in the biggest protest yet against the government’s budget changes to inheritance tax rules.

(Image: James Manning/ PA) The Government has been accused of dealing a “hammer blow” to farmers as 13,000 people protested in Whitehall over the Budget’s impact on farming.

Among those marching in Whitehall was TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who said "it's the end" for farmers, as he called for the government to change its mind.

Similar unrest occurred in Wales earlier this week, as hundreds gathered outside the Welsh Labour Conference in Conwy. In February, around 3,000 demonstrators gathered outside the Welsh Parliament in the largest demonstration in history.

What is the issue with inheritance tax?

The unrest began three weeks ago, after Chancellor Rachel Reeves revealed that the government announced reforms to agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR) from inheritance tax

From April 2026, inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m, which were previously exempt, will be liable to the tax at 20 per cent - half the usual rate.

Less than 30 miles down the M60 from Margaret's farm, just outside the village of Culcheth, Bates Farm is a family-run business passed down by the Wilshaw family for generations, straddling the Cheshire-Lancashire border.

Alison Wilshaw, who is 27 years old, inherited the mixed farm farming beef, sheep and arable with her sister, Fiona Wilshaw, 26, after the sudden death of their father last October.

 Whilst Fiona is the primary farmer of the land, Alison’s supports with farm events.

(Image: Leah Collins) Alison, who helps at Bolton’s Milk Maids ice cream parlour in Over Hulton, said: “Farming is a different business, especially family farming, there’s a huge emphasis on livelihood.

“To produce food you need land, machinery, fertilisers and of course the price of labour has gone up, all of this impacts the bottom line. Farmers operate on a one per cent return on capital and is something that can be difficult to convey to the public. 

(Image: Social media) “Now, families are having to have difficult conversations about whether they are a burden to the farm, the next generation will be burdened with this tax bill and because these won’t be economies of scale, the farms can’t grow.

(Image: Alison Wilshaw) “We lost our dad in October last year. Had these rules been made when he was alive it would have been terrifying. Farmers are made are stuff tough, it’s the mindset and a sense of purpose. But passing away is very quick, it’s a shock, there isn’t time for a handover and my sister had to take the reins quickly. We don’t believe that just a minority of farmers will be affected.

(Image: Social media)“One of the more widespread concerns is that the only way for farmers to pay the tax is to sell a proportion of the farm to reduce economies of scale, so the land will get bought up by corporations. Which could make the future of family farming unviable. Corporations that don’t necessarily know how to look after the environment or preserve rural communities.

“The majority of farmers don’t take a wage, it’s a lifestyle. We recognise that it’s a privilege to inherit this business and would welcome more diversity when it comes to new entrant farming. But this inheritance tax puts barriers up and stops new ‘inheritees’ from getting into the business because of the large capital outlay required to get into farming.

“When you think of how food is priced, farmers only see a tiny cut of that. There’s so much investment that goes into it, that’s what the public won’t see. It feels as though the government haven’t consulted key stakeholders of farmers to get to this decision.”

Margret Lees, 53, who owns her owns family-run farm with husband John, 58 in Ramsbottom is experiencing similar frustration at the new legislation.

Margret Lees (Image: Leah Collins) The farm, which specialises in dairy and beef, has been in Margaret’s family since 1956, and she worries for how her four children will continue the farm when faced with the tax.

Her 17-year-old daughter, who is currently studying agriculture at Reaseheath College, was among those demonstrating at the London march, which attracted tens of thousands. 

She said: “It’s the next generation that will be paying this tax bill. I don’t think for a minute that the government have looked at these figures correctly.

(Image: Leah Collins) “Even for a small business that employs around 25 people that’s up to £40,000 per year before National Insurance contributions. As a small business, where are you meant to get this money from?

“A pint of milk now is more expensive that the price of water, so where is the justice?

“Until a generation is hungry, there won’t be an appreciation of food.”

Margaret added: “To say it will affect 500 farms, well 20,000 were out in London protesting – we can’t all be wrong.

“Farmers are proud of their animals and their land. We help the community, we’re more than just workers.

(Image: Margret Lees) “During the pandemic, there was no food, I had over 200 calls from people who were asking me to deliver milk to them, as they had nothing. That just highlights the importance of farming. It's an identity, a belonging."

What has the Prime Minister said?

Despite the widespread protests, Prime Minister Kier Starmer insists he is “very confident” that the “vast majority” of farmers will not be affected by changes to inheritance tax.

At a press conference at the G20 in Brazil on Tuesday (November 21), he said: “On the question of inheritance tax, the example I’ve given is a typical example of parents wanting to pass on a farm to one of their children, and in those cases, when you look at all the thresholds available, that means that only farms over the value of £3 million will be affected by the changes.

(Image: Stefan Rousseau/ PA)“Therefore, the vast majority of farms will be unaffected, and those that are affected will only pay half the inheritance tax that other people pay- 20 per cent – and they will have a 10-year period over which to pay it.

“And so that’s why I’m very confident in saying that the vast majority will not be affected. How farmers then arrange their affairs within their family is obviously a matter for them.”

Yet Country Land and Business Association (CLA) estimates that 70,000 farms – all those of 50 hectares or more, with a value of more than £1 million – will be affected by the inheritance tax change over time, around a third of the UK total.

CLA president Victoria Vyvyan said: “Protesters have every right to be angry; the Government has lied about the impact on their livelihoods.

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“Ministers claim the inheritance tax cap hits only the rich, but it could put 70,000 farms — big and small — at risk. All will be questioning their future, and whether they’ll have one to pass on.

“Farmers shouldn’t need to be marching to London; ministers should be marching to them.

“They need to understand the real damage and fix it before they destroy confidence in the rural economy.”

What is the solution?

Members of the National Farmers Union, farmers across the UK and the greater public have joined forces to call on the government to reverse its decision on the APR (Agricultural Property Relief).

So far, over 244,681 people have signed of the 25,000 NFU petition.

(Image: Aaron Chown/ PA) Treasury data shows that around three-quarters of farmers will pay nothing in inheritance tax because of the controversial changes.

 Farmers have challenged the figures, pointing instead to data from Defra, which suggests 66 per cent of farm businesses are worth more than the £1m threshold at which inheritance tax will now need to be paid.

In the meantime, for landowners such as Fiona, Alison and Margaret the issue is one that doesn’t seem to be fading away any time soon and the more people who can support the cause, the better.

Alison said: “We’re trying our best to use our platform to educate the public – it’s something that’s not understood widely by people who aren’t farmers. So, we want to change this for the best.”

Got a story? Email me at Leah.Collins@newsquest.co.uk