The proposed IHT (inheritance tax) changes could affect as many as 75% of farming families according to the NFU's impact analysis. Despite this, the government has so far refused to publish the financial analysis behind its decision, even after multiple Freedom of Information requests from the NFU and others.
An alternative proposal by the NFU and other tax and farming experts, known as the ‘clawback’, would be cost neutral to the government while avoiding the devastating impact on farming families and rural communities. The government has so far refused to consider it. Meanwhile, elderly farmers are stuck in an abhorrent position, feeling like a burden on their families ahead of the changes coming into force in April 2026.
“We’re now urging them to extend that same support to elderly farmers who have spent their lives feeding the nation.”
NFU President Tom Bradshaw
On Wednesday Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to change the threshold for winter fuel payments to allow more pensioners to receive the payment after restricting the eligibility criteria last winter.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said the change made by the government on winter fuel payments “shows the government is willing to listen to concerns about the elderly”.
“We’re now urging them to extend that same support to elderly farmers who have spent their lives feeding the nation, and who now find themselves in an incredibly difficult position. Many are deeply worried not just about their own future but about becoming a financial burden on their families.
“Whatever our other disagreements about the family farm tax, we cannot imagine ministers ever meant to put older farmers in this awful position. This is an opportunity to do the right thing.”
A fair and balanced solution
When More in Common asked the public about some of the government’s key announcements during its first few months in office, testing how much the public has heard about what the government has done and whether they view their actions positively or negatively, results found that the family farm tax is in the top three most unpopular policies heard about most by the public.
The NFU President said the NFU had put forward “a credible alternative“ in the clawback option, that would protect British farmers without being costly to the government.
“It’s a fair and balanced solution that should be reviewed,“ Tom said.
“There is still time to change course. Just as the government has listened to the public and MPs on winter fuel payments, it must now listen again, to protect the people who have worked the land and produced our food for generations.”
