“We don’t need small farmers”, says former Labour adviser
12th November 2024
John McTernan said that the UK “does not need small farmers” while defending the chancellor’s decision to reduce inheritance tax reliefs.
While being interviewed by Patrick Christys on GB News, ex-Tony Blair aide John McTernan said the government should “do to the farmers what Thatcher did to the miners”.
He said he was “personally in favour” of the changes to inheritance tax relief, which mean farms with a net value over £1m will only qualify for 50% agricultural property relief.
He added: “If the farmers want to go on the streets, we can do to them what Margaret Thatcher did to the miners.”
In an attempt to clarify the former Labour advisor’s meaning, Patrick Christys asked: “So just to be clear John, you would what? Beat them up?”
Mr McTernan answered: “It’s an industry we can do without. If people are so upset that they want to go on the streets and spread slurry, then we don’t need small farmers.”
READ MORE: What does the Budget really mean for farming?
“Heartless” comments
Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs at Countryside Alliance, commented on the interview: “Is he saying the quiet part out loud? Heartless.”
No Farmers, No Food campaigners called the statement “disgraceful”.
Disgraceful statement from former Labour political advisor John McTernan:
— No Farmers, No Food (@NoFarmsNoFoods) November 12, 2024
“We can do to the farmers what Thatcher did to the miners. It’s an industry we could do without. We don’t need small farmers.” pic.twitter.com/2MLr46l6GO
Following the conversation with Mr McTernan, GB News journalist Patrick Christys posted on his social media:
‘Just a former Labour advisor here brazenly saying he’d send riot police in to deal with a farmers’ protest and then shut down Britain’s farming industry because we “don’t need them”.
‘I didn’t press him on it too much because I wanted to let it sit there like the stale fart it is.’
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