Campaigners urge McDonald’s to join farmers in fight against IHT
5th February 2025
Supporters of Britain’s farmers are urging fast-food giant McDonald’s to join the industry in demanding that Rachel Reeves rethinks her controversial inheritance tax changes on family farms.
The restaurant chain claims that British and Irish farmers are their “most essential ingredient”, however, they have yet to outline their position on the policy.
Retailers including Tesco, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons have all spoken out against the chancellor’s IHT changes in recent weeks, demanding she halt the overhaul.
Last Friday, Richard Walker, managing director of Iceland, criticised the chancellor’s decision to target farmers with higher death duties. He said: “The Treasury is right to look at levelling the playing field on tax, but it has parked its tractor in the wrong place going after hard-working British farmers”.
READ MORE: MPs call on supermarket bosses to pay farmers fair prices
READ MORE: Tesco, Co-op and Lidl back farmers in ongoing inheritance tax row
READ MORE: More supermarkets stand on farmers’ side in IHT fight
Farmers battling for their future
The campaign group No Farmers, No Food posted on X that they are now asking McDonald’s to ‘join retailers in supporting farmers in their campaign against the government’s inheritance tax on family farms’.
‘They describe British farmers as ‘their most essential ingredient’. Will they speak up for farmers now, before it’s too late?’
We are asking @McDonaldsUK to join retailers in supporting farmers in their campaign against the government’s inheritance tax on family farms. They describe British farmers as ‘their most essential ingredient’. Will they speak up for farmers now, before it’s too late? pic.twitter.com/RT7LLSe6MY
— No Farmers, No Food (@NoFarmsNoFoods) February 4, 2025
Farmers have mounted a national campaign against Rachel Reeves’ plans to tax their inheritance on their estates after they die, something that could lead to the mass selling off of land.
Reacting to the demands from NFNF, the Countryside Alliance’s head of external affairs, Mo Metcalf-Fisher, said: “McDonalds have for many years been a vocal supporter of British farming and their support in this important campaign would be incredibly significant.”
“Farmers are battling for their future, and they need retail businesses that support their hard work to speak out now, before it’s too late. Supermarkets have already been vocal in joining calls from the farming sector in urging the Treasury to rethink the family farm tax, it is vital others follow”.
The NFU has argued that 75% of farm businesses could be impacted, with other industry estimates suggesting 2,500 farmers a year will be hit by the overhaul, five times as many as official forecasts.
It will be the third major London protest since chancellor Reeves’ Budget last year, in addition to dozens more up and down the country.
READ MORE: Suffolk: ‘We stay united’ – over 100 tractors are taking part in farmers’ rally
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