Chancellor Rachel Reeves

'Generosity, compassion, and community' at heart of rural life and farming communities

Farm Life

'Generosity, compassion, and community' at heart of rural life and farming communities

Revd Jeffrey from The Arthur Rank Centre said: "Whatever your beliefs, this season invites us to reflect on the values of generosity, compassion, and community. These values are at the heart of rural life, and they inspire us to continue supporting one another through every challenge

clock 21 December 2024 • 2 min read

Farming in Five

December 20: Farming in Five: NFU president reacts to Prime Minister's comments on Inheritance Tax

Description: In today's Farming in Five, Chief Reporter Rachael Brown reports on reaction to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer's comments that the purpose of the inheritance tax reform was to raise revenue in the Budget. Shortly after making these comments, his Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said on a webinar hosted by the Tenant Farmers Association that far too many farmers are dependent on Government support schemes, and the new environmental schemes are about using public money for public goods, not about farming support – 'that comes alongside it.' Elsewhere, fairness in the supply chain will be the focus of a new inquiry by the Efra Committee. MPs will examine a range of key issues affecting the sector, including the levels of support for domestic food production, access to affordable and healthy food, labour shortages in the supply chain, and food prices.

clock 20 December 2024 • 1 min read
Farmers under pressure to diversify and find alternative income streams

Diversification

Farmers under pressure to diversify and find alternative income streams

A survey by law firm Shakespeare Martineau found out of 250 agricultural and small businesses, almost a quarter (22%) have identified the need to diversify their operations for business survival

clock 19 December 2024 • 2 min read
UK economy shrinks for second successive month as Budget concerns loom large

Politics

UK economy shrinks for second successive month as Budget concerns loom large

The Office for National Statistics said GDP fell 0.1% in October 2024. Services showed 'no growth', while Production (-0.6%) and construction (-0.4%) both fell.

clock 13 December 2024 • 2 min read
Efra Committee told Inheritance Tax changes are a tax on the 'unfortunate'

Politics

Efra Committee told Inheritance Tax changes are a tax on the 'unfortunate'

Howes Percival partner Stuart Maggs, said it was ‘disingenuous' to suggest the only people impacted by this policy are the ones having to pay tax, highlighting many farmers who will spend ‘thousands if not tens of thousands' on legal fees in response to the policy change

clock 11 December 2024 • 2 min read
Defra Secretary commits to facilitating a meeting between Chancellor Rachel Reeves and UK farming unions, says UFU

Politics

Defra Secretary commits to facilitating a meeting between Chancellor Rachel Reeves and UK farming unions, says UFU

UFU president William Irvine said once all the facts were laid out on the table, it seemed the negative impact that the budget changes will have on NI started to 'hit home'

clock 11 December 2024 • 2 min read
Restricting food supplies is not the answer to stopping the family farm tax, says NFU president

Politics

Restricting food supplies is not the answer to stopping the family farm tax, says NFU president

Mr Bradshaw said winning the fight on the family farm tax will only be achieved through two ways, maintaining public support and pressurising the Treasury with their own backbench MPs

clock 10 December 2024 • 3 min read
Farmers organise Business Property Relief summit at Andrew Lloyd Webber's London Palladium Theatre

Politics

Farmers organise Business Property Relief summit at Andrew Lloyd Webber's London Palladium Theatre

The event is led by the same group of farmers who organised the 'Save Family Farms' rally outside Westminster on November 19

clock 06 December 2024 • 2 min read
New CLA polling claims Labour is 'losing the countryside'

Politics

New CLA polling claims Labour is 'losing the countryside'

A CLA poll of England's 100 most rural constituencies, shows '58% oppose the inheritance tax hike', with 'less than a quarter in support'

clock 06 December 2024 • 1 min read
'They feed us and now they need us' - Tories demand vote on Budget rethink

Politics

'They feed us and now they need us' - Tories demand vote on Budget rethink

Shadow Efra Secretary Victoria Atkins pays tribute to farmers insisting 'city dwelling' Labour ministers have got their tax figures wrong

clock 04 December 2024 • 2 min read