Farming families deliver letters written by children to PM Starmer
4th January 2025
Farming families gathered on Whitehall before delivering letters written by children to PM Keir Starmer, asking him to change his mind in regard to inheritance tax reliefs.
At the end of 2024, campaigner Save British Farming launched a Christmas appeal asking children to write a letter to Sir Starmer as well as Santa about their wishes for British farming in the New Year.
Save British Farming explained: “We want Sir Keir and his government to hear personal stories from our children about what this disastrous Budget means for farms across the country, and we are asking children to write letters to explain their feelings.
“On Thursday, 2nd January, we have booked an appointment at 12.30pm to hand in these letters to No 10 Downing Street.”
Farming families gathered on Whitehall in London on Thursday 2nd January at about 11.30 am, from where they assembled to deliver the letters to the PM.
A lovely bright day in London as farming families gathered on Whitehall before delivering letters from children to the PM asking him to change his mind.#FamilyFarmTax pic.twitter.com/dOPzr8dDvO
— Save British Farming 🇬🇧 (@SaveBritishFood) January 2, 2025
READ MORE: ‘Changes to BPR will have severe and long-lasting impact on farm businesses’
The impact of changes
Delivering the Labour Government’s first Autumn Budget on 30th October, the Chancellor extended the inheritance tax threshold freeze for another two years, until 2030.
However, following much speculation, she confirmed reforms to agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR) from April 2026.
From this date, the first £1 million of combined business and agricultural assets will continue to attract no inheritance tax.
But, for assets over £1 million, inheritance tax will apply with 50% relief.
The change comes despite significant lobbying from the farming industry and a statement from the now Defra secretary of state Steve Reed last year, that Labour had “no intention of changing APR”.
David Eudall, AHDB economics & analysis director, explained: “The impact of the changes to inheritance tax means that from April 2026, a farm worth £2 million will have a £200,000 tax requirement to pay on the £1 million above the threshold.
“For every additional £1 million the farm is worth, a further £200,000 will be required to be paid in inheritance tax.”
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