Blaring tractor horns and furious protesters greeted the Environment Secretary at the National Farmers’ Union conference yesterday.
Steve Reed was forced to make a grovelling apology after facing claims that some elderly farmers were ‘wishing their lives away’ to avoid being penalised by the new inheritance tax which comes into effect in April next year.
During a tense question-and-answer session one farmer suggested their best tax plan was to die before the changes came in.
During the conference Mr Reed outlined plans for his 25-year farming roadmap and food strategy. He claims his plans will make agriculture more profitable and protect it from future environmental shocks such as severe flooding and droughts.
As he spoke, a procession of tractors parked outside the conference venue sounded their horns to express their frustration towards the Labour Government’s devastating policies.
Dan Willis, 49, a fifth generation farmer who had travelled to London from Newbury in Berkshire to protest Labour’s proposed levy, said: ‘The Government is not listening to us farmers. The problem we’re facing here today is our very survival.
‘If the new inheritance tax rules come in I wouldn’t be able to afford to continue farming. That just cannot be right.’
Mr Reed said yesterday: ‘I’m really sorry about the individual circumstances, but it’s very difficult for the secretary of state to comment on individual circumstances.
‘I’ve explained to you why we had to take a decision that I know has been very, very difficult but we will focus on making farms more profitable, because that seems to me, the problem at the heart of the crisis in the sector.’