This morning, I met with farmers in Harefield and representatives from the National Farmers' Union (NFU) to discuss issues impacting their businesses. The meeting was kindly hosted by Sussie Wiles from Bourne Farm and attended by Colin Mitchell from Whiteheath Farm and Toby Dalton from Dalton's Farm, which sits just outside of the constituency in South Harefield.
Top of the agenda were changes to the Agricultural Property Relief, which will see a tax of 20% applied to agricultural assets over £1million from April 2026. My concern is with the impact on smaller farms, many of which are proudly family-run and rely on the APR to safeguard them for generations. Despite the Government’s assessment that only 27% of commercial farms will be impacted, the methodology fails to account for current market conditions and the economic realities of the farming business. It is evident, therefore, that the number will be much higher, with the NFU’s own research suggesting it being closer to 75%. It is irresponsible of the Government not to provide an accurate and thorough assessment of a policy that has the potential to devastate so many businesses, while at the same time jeopardising our food security and the sustainability of the rural economy.
We also discussed the proposed changes to the Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMs), which was first introduced by the previous Government as we moved away from the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and Rights of Way, both of which prompted some questions and concerns that I will be raising with Ministers.
It was a very useful meeting, and I am grateful to the farmers for their time and to the NFU for organising. Rest assured, I will continue to stand up against Labour’s disastrous family farm tax and advocate on behalf of my constituents.
