'We won't take it lying down' - Farmers across West Midlands plan 'Day of Unity' against family farm tax plan

Towns across the UK, including Shropshire and the wider West Midlands will -  on January 25 - see farmers gathering to thank the public for their overwhelming support, and to underline to  MPs that efforts will not stop until plans for the tax are subject to consultation and proper scrutiny.

All UK farming unions are participating with the message that plans for the inheritance tax are 'badly thought out and will crush family farming in Britain'. 

As a result of the Budget, from April 2026, inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1 million, which were previously exempt, will be liable to inheritance tax (IHT) at 20 per cent, half the normal rate.

A huge backlash came from the farming community, with many arguing that the threshold of £1 million is set too low as the price of agricultural land is inflated compared to the actual profit it produces as a farm.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “Farmers haven’t taken this destructive policy lying down and we won’t give up. 

"There is too much at risk – our families, our future, our heritage and the undermining of the very sector that produces a safe, secure supply of British food.

“This date will give everyone that wants to an opportunity to support family farms from right across the UK, to show unity and strength, and for farmers and growers to speak as one in our call for government to stop the family farm tax.

“We are so grateful to the British public for their ongoing support on this issue. The 25^th is not just a day for the farming community to show unity, but anyone who believes Britain’s family farms, and the high quality food they produce, deserve to be better valued and supported.”

Bridgnorth farmer Richard Yates said: "It's an issue which not going to go away. The farming industry has been prodded unjustifiably and I have never seen farmers as united and angry as we are today. 

"As a member of the NFU council, we are meeting weekly and have even been on calls over Christmas, such is our resolve to rectify this injustice. We have events throughout January."

He added: "I believe we have the respect and backing of the general public as well. We want to see our generation and the next generation able to operate profitably.

"We need to see that framework but at the moment that roadmap is being ripped up and we are pretty damned angry.  

 "Lots of fourth and fifth generation farmers aren't prepared to stand aside and let all that fantastic work for the environment and effort  to feed our nation go to waste. 

"We want to work with the government, challenging them but also liaising with them to rectify this problem. It's important they listen to our side of the story." 

Jane Bassett, NFU regional board chair, who represents county farmers and those across the Midlands said specific plans were being led by NFU farming leaders with details being finalised and firmed up in the weeks ahead working with other members, county and regional teams.

She said: “We had the mass lobby in London and have launched our banner campaign all the while mass lobbying our MPs over this and we have shown this issue is not going away and we will continue to fight it.

“The campaign continues as we call on all of our politicians from all parties to back the industry and stop this destructive tax on family food producing businesses, the economy and rural communities.”

Last week, we revealed how NFU members are amplifying the campaign against the family farm tax by putting banner up across the county.

The NFU, in collaboration with farming unions NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and the Ulster Farmers’ Union, stepped up its #StopTheFamilyFarmTax campaign with a national display of solidarity – the Big Banner Day.

Roadside and gate banners have been displayed across the country o amplify the message that the proposed changes to inheritance tax threaten the future of family farms.

The banners, designed to be highly visible in key political constituencies, aim to keeppublic attention and build political pressure on the devastating impact these changeswould have on farming families and rural communities.

Father and son Oliver and Ed Garratt, who keep sheep by The Wrekin, have been busy putting up banners with NFU members in the county alongside the A5 towards Oswestry, the M54 and at sites on the A49 at Shrewsbury.

Ed, who is NFU Shropshire county adviser, said: “Shropshire farmers and growers and those up and down the country want to be focused on growing crops and rearing stock, producing that food for our towns and cities, helping the environment and working to grow the economy, but the family farm tax has created serious worry and concern about the future of our farms.

“Many may have to be broken up or sold to pay the tax man so this is the issue for county farmers at the moment and we are working hard with them and behind-the-scenes to keep the pressure up over the family farm tax.

“This is just the next step, with much more to follow in January and beyond, as we call on all of our politicians to back the industry and stop this destructive tax on family food producing businesses.”