Today I met with local NFU members at the Moorland Hotel who are deeply worried that they won't be able to pass on their farms to their children because of Labour's family farm tax.
70,000 family farms are at risk by this cruel policy, including many in South West Devon. Farmers run on extremely thin margins, often left with less than 1% of profit on food they produce. Taxing farmers 20% on assets with over £1m (a threshold which any viable farm meets) sounds a death knell for the family farm.
This catastrophic policy will damage the UK's food security. At a time of global insecurity, we will become fully dependent on foreign imports to feed the nation. This will leave us vulnerable and hit the pockets of every British citizen, whether you live in urban Plymouth or rural Wotter.
Our farmers are the stewards of the British countryside we all cherish. Without them scenes of rolling fields, farmed for generations, will be cast into history. The knock-on affects to the rural economy will be felt acutely in rural communities such as South West Devon.
Call to action - Almost 2,000 farmers are expected to take part in a mass loby in Westminster on 19th November (I look forward to meeting local farmers on their visit!) Show your support by signing the petition to stop the family farm tax: https://www.whatlaboursaid.com/stop-the-family-farm-tax
