The budget failed to address the huge damage of the family farm tax.
The damage tax rises like the family farm tax is not just a sum of money heading to the treasury at some point, it is the reduction in investment from the very start of that tax being introduced. Farmers all around Surrey have been telling me that it is stopping them investing in capital projects that would help produce more food and drive schemes like nature recovery. This then means less employment for other business like carpenters, builders etc. All equals less money churn in our economy.
With low food security in the UK the government should not do anything to jeopardise farming and should do all they can to support British farmers. That is why the family farm tax should be abolished in the coming budget.
Simply the Government needs to set out how they plan to reduce government spending and the benefits bill rather than taxing farmers or indeed any of working people.
You can view my video with a local Dorking farmer and see how much it has impacted her family when all they are trying to do is produce good food and support their community. Labour has chosen to take the route of envy taxes on those who hold land rather than recognising the public good that farmers can provide and the need to put food security at the heart of the resilience, business and growth.
