The NFU has urged Labour MPs to abstain from a vote expected this evening on the ‘family farm tax’.
A vote is expected to take place on Resolution 50 of the Finance Bill, which specifically relates to the Inheritance Tax proposal.
The union said that by abstaining, MPs would demonstrate to their constituents that they “understand how damaging the tax will be for farming families and demonstrate to the government that they will not support the policy in its current state”.
“Tonight’s vote is an opportunity for Labour MPs to show that they truly back the working people of the countryside – farmers,” said NFU president Tom Bradshaw. “Without change, the family farm tax will trap the most vulnerable members of our community, the elderly and terminally ill, with no ability to plan.
“It’s inhumane and it’s cruel.”
The vote this evening is not binding, but the NFU believes that absentions at this stage would demonstrate that MPs oppose the policy and put pressure on the government to make amendments.
“We’re urging Labour MPs to abstain from the vote and show their constituents, both farmers and the public, that they cannot support this pernicious policy in its current state,” said Bradshaw. “And we ask anyone in a Labour constituency who cares about Britain’s family farms to reach out to their MP with the same message.”
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