Latest: Scottish farmers rally across the country against Inheritance Tax changes

Scotland's postponed 'Day of Unity' will highlight how the UK Government’s proposed changes to Inheritance Tax threaten the viability of family farms

clock • 2 min read
Harriet Cross, Scottish Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan, is attending Saturday's Aberdeenshire rally.
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Harriet Cross, Scottish Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan, is attending Saturday's Aberdeenshire rally.

The 'Day of Unity' events had originally been planned to take place on Saturday, January 25, however, due to the widespread damage caused by Storm Eowyn, NFU Scotland postponed these at late notice to allow the emergency services and many of its members to focus on the clean-up operations that followed this violent storm.

READ MORE: Scottish family on This Farming Life aim to showcase the good, the bad and the ugly

Inheritance Tax

The rallies follow the reform of Agricultural Property Relief (APR) in the Autumn Budget, as farms worth more than £1 million will incur a 20% Inheritance Tax charge from 2026.

The protests are also taking place against the backdrop of wider financial pressures impacting the industry, including high costs and low returns, and uncertainty over future policy.

NFU Scotland

Martin Kennedy, NFU Scotland President, said: "Scotland's farmers and crofters have once again demonstrated their key, but often unnoticed, role in rural communities by helping with the clear-up operations following the devastating storm last Friday.

"Our decision to postpone events was welcomed and commended by emergency services.

"These events, however, were planned as part of a UK-wide day of action to send yet another loud and clear message to Westminster that proposed Inheritance Tax changes would have a devastating impact on prime producers, threatening our family farms and national food security."

NFU Scotland representatives will be in Westminster this week to meet with a range of MPs to raise the serious concerns of members.

This weekend is also an opportunity for farmers and crofters to say thank you to the public for their ongoing support and engage with MPs and local politicians.

READ MORE: More than 42,000 English and Scottish farms to be hit by Inheritance Tax changes, says AHDB

Scottish Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan Harriet Cross, who is attending Saturday's Aberdeenshire rally, said: "So soon after farmers went above and beyond to ensure our communities were safe during Storm Eowyn, this weekend's rearranged tractor rally sends a clear message to Keir Starmer that this issue will not be forgotten about.

Day of Unity

"This Day of Unity is about farmers coming together to show the Labour UK Government that their plans will cause significant harm to the industry, rural communities and our food security.

"We will not give up and I look forward to meeting farmers, taking questions and discussing how we can get Labour to finally sit round the table to listen to the industry's concerns; something the treasury has so far refused to do."

Full details of where and when events will be happening can be found on the NFU Scotland website.

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