On Tuesday, I met with a group of farmers from Herefordshire in Parliament to listen to their concerns about the Government’s changes to inheritance tax. Today, I wrote to the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to urge her to meet with the NFU, to press for an urgent independent impact assessment of the changes, and to push for long-term Government commitment to ensuring family farming can provide a sustainable and decent income.

The full text of the letter is below.

Letter to Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves

20 November 2024

Dear Rachel,

I am writing to highlight significant concerns raised by farmers in my constituency regarding
the proposed changes to inheritance tax and their potential impact on family farming in the
UK.

While I fully support the principle of ensuring fairness in the tax system, raising funds to invest
in vital public services, and closing loopholes, it is critical that such policies are based on
robust, transparent data. Currently, there is a stark disparity between the figures provided by
the Treasury and those from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU). This discrepancy raises
genuine questions about why there are such divergent views regarding who will be affected
and how.

To address these concerns, I urge you to meet with the NFU to begin a dialogue about these
discrepancies and ensure their views are heard and considered.

Alongside this, an independent impact assessment is urgently needed to clarify how these
changes will affect different groups, particularly nature-friendly family farms that are integral
to our rural communities and food security. Without this clarity, it is impossible to fully
understand whether the policy will achieve its aims without unintended consequences.

In addition, there is a pressing need for long-term government commitment to ensure that
family farming can provide a sustainable and decent income. Many farmers are already
operating on tight margins, and without a comprehensive strategy to address market challenges,
such as supermarket power and fluctuating costs, the future of family farming is at risk.
Supporting nature-friendly practices, ensuring fair returns for farmers, and fostering resilience
in rural economies must be central to this commitment.

I hope you will work with Cabinet colleagues to address these issues with urgency. Farmers
deserve clear, evidence-based policymaking that both addresses tax fairness and secures the
future of this vital sector.

Yours sincerely,
Ellie Chowns
MP for North Herefordshire