MP calls for relief in 'family farm' tax

Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr MP Steve Witherden has called for mitigations to the planned changes to Agricultural Property Relief, due to come into force next year.

Speaking in a Westminster Hall Debate, Mr Witherden asked whether the government would consider raising the threshold to better target the super-rich using agricultural land to avoid tax, while lessening the impact on real family farms.

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He also raised concerns about exempting farmers who may not have enough time to adjust to the changes.

In his speech, Steve Witherden stated, "I support progressive taxation to ensure that the wealthiest pay their fair share towards the upkeep of our society. In the 21st century, individual plutocrats and super-wealthy multinationals are buying agricultural land to avoid paying inheritance tax, reducing our farmed land—a critical resource in a world with a fast-growing population."

He emphasised the potential detrimental effect of the changes to Agricultural Property Relief on working family farms, expressing his concern over food scarcity, empty shelves, and food price inflation that disproportionately affect the poorest in the country.

Mr Witherden called on the Government to consider raising the threshold and adjusting the rate to target those buying farmland solely for tax avoidance purposes. He also appealed for exemptions for elderly farmers caught off guard by the proposed changes, recounting poignant moments where farmers expressed their distress over the potential impact on their children.

Steve Witherden said, "If only I could die now, if only there was some kind of pill I could take now, so that my children don’t have to worry about this."