Controversial inheritance tax changes prompted lively debate on GB News as commentator Matthew Stadlen questioned why farmers’ concerns have been given a significant amount of attention.
It comes amid a row over the new taxes for farms worth more than £1 million, with questions being put to the Government about the figures Chancellor Rachel Reeves based the decision on.
While Treasury data suggests around three-quarters of farmers will pay nothing in inheritance tax - many have challenged the figures and pointed to data from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs which suggests 66 per cent of farm businesses are worth more than the £1 million threshold.
Speaking on GB News, Stadlen said he feels “empathy” with farmers for the jobs they do, but questioned whether the affair is as much of an issue as is made out.
Stadlen and Parish clashed on GB News
GB NEWS
“Why are we spending so much of our precious time endlessly debating these farmers who are having this collective rage?”, he asked.
“We’re not going to stop being fed, and Starmer will not back down. He did not back down on the winter fuel allowance which I opposed, so there’s no way he will give into farmers.
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Farmers protest in WalesGETTY“I think there are problems with this and of course I have empathy with farmers, they work unbelievably hard.
“The farm I used to spend 15-16 weeks a year on as a child, they were working 365 days a year these people. They are asset rich but cash poor.
“There are many across the country who would love to inherit their parent’s home worth millions without paying tax for it, so why is there this special pleading for farmers?”
GB News’s Dawn Neesom said Stadlen is comparing an “ordinary house to a farm that feeds the country”, a point the commentator did not accept.
The matter was discussed on GB News
GB NEWS
“The farms aren’t going to stop. It will be easier to get newcomers in because they’re being stitched up by families.”
Ex-Tory MP and farmer Neil Parish said he “couldn’t believe what I’m hearing” from Stadlen as he launched a scathing attack at the Labour Government.
“It was only four years ago when we had Covid and we really needed our food”, he said.
“The land, 100 acres is £1 million. It will probably return you between £5,000-10,000. Therefore, if you ask somebody to raise £200,000 on it, they just can’t do it.
“I just think that farming families are the bedrock of this country. They do work all hours.
“They are very valuable. We’ve got a Government very conscious of the environment and yet what this will do in the long run is mean more imported food because they’re reducing payments to farmers with this policy.
“They’re making it more difficult to farm. The whole thing is really, really difficult. It’s no wonder they’re going to get such a big protest.”
Farmers are set to flock to London on Tuesday with many bringing their tractors in a mass protest.
