The government has suffered another blow this week after dozens of Labour MPs did not vote for its controversial ‘family farm tax’.
The National Farmers’ Union praised the mini-munity by more than 30 Labour MPs, largely by those from rural seats, who abstained on Resolution 50 of the Finance Bill – also known as the budget.
Whilst the vote was not binding, the NFU believed it demonstrated the level of mounting opposition to the measures and would pressure the government to make amendments.
“I’d like to thank all the Labour MPs who have stood up to show that they cannot support this pernicious policy,” commented NFU president Tom Bradshaw.
A total of 327 MPs, largely from Labour, voted in favour of the resolution, whilst 182, mostly drawn from the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, voted against it.
Read more: Budget: Farmers in dismay at minimal family farm tax changes
“It is vital that the Chancellor and prime minister listen to the clear message they have delivered this evening,” Bradshaw continued. “I’d also like to thank the farmers and growers who took the time to engage with their MPs to get the message out there.
“The next step in the fight against the ‘family farm tax’ is removing the elderly and terminally ill from the eye of the storm of this unjust and unfair policy.”
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