In an unprecedented show of unity, farming representatives from across the United Kingdom converged on Westminster as NFU Scotland joined forces with counterparts from England, Wales and Northern Ireland to challenge controversial new taxation proposals.
Over 1,800 farmers participated in a mass lobby of Parliament, while thousands more rallied outside, creating one of the largest agricultural protests Westminster has witnessed in recent years.
The protest centres on proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR), which farming unions warn could force many family farms and crofts to sell their land simply to meet inheritance tax obligations.
NFU Scotland’s delegation, led by their Board of Directors, engaged with more than 30 Scottish MPs to highlight the potentially catastrophic impact of these taxation changes on rural communities and food security.
The Government’s dramatic shift away from its previous stance that ‘food security is national security’ has sparked outrage across the agricultural sector, particularly given the lack of industry consultation before announcing these significant changes.
Speaking from Church House, Westminster, NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy expressed deep concern that these proposals could devastate rural communities where small family farms form the backbone of local life and economy.
The proposed changes threaten to dismantle generations of agricultural heritage by making it financially untenable for farms to pass between generations without significant asset sales or complete dissolution of farming enterprises.
Industry experts warn that these reforms could trigger a dramatic reduction in available farmland for rent, effectively crushing opportunities for the next generation of farmers to enter the industry.
The timing of these proposals comes as particularly bitter news for Scottish farmers, who are already grappling with tightening margins, soaring input costs, and increasingly challenging weather conditions.
Kennedy emphasised that existing tax arrangements are not loopholes but carefully considered measures designed to protect food security and sustain rural economies through multi-generational farming businesses.
The apparent disconnect between Treasury and DEFRA regarding the impact of these proposals has led to calls for immediate suspension of the plans pending proper consultation with industry stakeholders.
With mental health concerns rising in farming communities due to mounting financial pressures, union leaders are demanding the Government reconsider what they describe as potentially catastrophic changes to agricultural taxation.
