Midlands farmers have descended on Melton Mowbray in protest against Labour's proposed inheritance tax changes, with industry leaders warning the policy could devastate family farms.
Simon Orson, Chair of Midlands Farmers, led the demonstration against Chancellor Rachel Reeves's inheritance tax raid.
The protest has drawn significant numbers from the farming community, who have united in the home of pork pies against the planned tax reforms.
"It's been an incredibly positive reaction to the protest," Orson told GB News. "Folks have come out in numbers, it's been well natured and we're all sort of singing from the same hymn sheet."
Simon Orson declared that the inheritance tax raid is neither 'feasible nor fair' to farmers
GB News
"I'm really, really proud. I'm genuinely proud of the farming community coming out," Orson added.
He expressed regret that the protest was necessitated by Reeves's budget proposals.
Orson emphasised the unified response from the farming community, praising their collective action.
He revealed the personal impact of the proposed changes, citing a potential £800,000 inheritance tax bill upon his father's passing.
Farmers arrived in force to protest the tax changes in Notttingham
GB NEWS"I haven't got that money to pay," he told GB News.
Despite a Government offer to spread payments over ten years interest-free, Orson highlighted the financial impossibility of the situation.
"I make £22,000 a year. So I've got to find £80,000 plus whatever I need to live on. It's just not feasible," he explained.
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The farmer emphasised that his annual income would make it impossible to meet the proposed tax obligations.
Orson criticised the policy for failing to achieve its stated aim of targeting wealthy individuals.
"The way that she wrote this budget, it doesn't actually stop the rich that are trying to shelter from inheritance tax from going out and buying more land," he said.
Simon Orson hit out at Labour for sending funds to foreign agricultural projects
GB News
He argued that wealthy investors still have incentives to purchase agricultural land.
"This is hitting the small to medium sized family farm, pure and simple," Orson told GB News.
He insisted that Labour needs to redraft the policy to properly target wealthy individuals, and questioned the financial logic behind Labour's inheritance tax proposals.
"This is meant to make £500million," he noted to GB News. "So why on earth did the Government send £536million off for foreign agricultural projects?" he asked.
Orson concluded with a stark assessment of the Government's priorities.
"The Government are not bothered about farming and we need to make sure that they are," he stated.
