The National Farmers Union organised a rally at Church House in London to protest the inheritance tax announced in Labours budget. Among them was Councillor Mark Mather, a farmer who represents the Wooler ward.
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00:00Conservative councillors representing some of Northumberland's most rural wards joined
00:03thousands of farmers to protest government changes to inheritance tax.
00:07From April 2026, inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1 million, which were previously
00:12exempt, will have to pay inheritance tax at 20%.
00:14While the government insists it is committed to supporting farmers and rural communities
00:18and helping families to pass their land on to the next generation, the sector has warned
00:22that farms will become smaller and smaller as a result of the changes.
00:25The National Farmers Union organised a rally at Church House in London to protest the changes
00:29last Tuesday, with thousands of farmers turning out.
00:32Among them was Councillor Mark Mather, a farmer who represents the Wooler Ward.
00:37He said,
00:38As a tenant farmer myself, I am acutely aware of the impact this budget will have on residents
00:41in Wooler, double-car pick-up taxes and new taxes on fertilisers as part of a green agenda
00:46that could have a reverse effect on the environment as people look to import cheaper crops from
00:50abroad.
00:51The government have insisted that these changes to agricultural property relief should only
00:55affect the wealthiest 500 estates each year, with smaller farms not affected by these changes.