Family farms are at risk of closure due to the government's inheritance tax, leading to a reliance on lower quality imported food in an unstable global environment, one Cheshire farmer has warned. Rob Brunt, along with another farmer, urged Cheshire East council's economy and growth committee to oppose the government's proposed new inheritance tax.
At this week's meeting, Mr Brunt stated: "In a volatile world, it makes no sense to be reliant on imported food with much higher environmental costs and a higher carbon footprint."
He highlighted the significant contribution farming makes to the rural economy, and said: "Looking at our own business in the month of February, for example, we received income from five businesses, whereas we paid out money to more than 35 different suppliers," said Mr Brunt.
READ MORE: {}
"The largest landowners, such as the National Trust and water companies will never pay inheritance tax.
"The burden of the government's new inheritance tax is not being shared equally, but is targeting family farms and will put many of us out of business.
"This is devastating for British agriculture, and will lead to food shortages."
Richard Yarwood, whose family has farmed in Brereton for 100 years, added: "Farmers are motivated by their ambition to pass on the farm to the next generation, better than they started.
"But the imposition of 20 per cent inheritance above the threshold destroys all that when the average returns on assets are hardly one per cent."
Most Read
Alsager town councillor Sue Helliwell raised her concerns, saying: "The inheritance tax will be forcing generations of farmers to sell their land.
"Is this really what our council wants? More solar panels, more housing and less locally produced and sourced food?".
During the debate on a notice of motion concerning the protection of family farms, Conservative Cllr Alison Heler of Haslington said: "Farms are already under a lot of pressure, environment issues, the increasing costs, and this is just another concern."
However, Macclesfield's Cllr Rob Vernon (Lab) said the Government was not introducing a new tax but changing a tax rule "that the farming community has enjoyed for 41 years, that others are not afforded".
He added: "In fact, it's not the removal of a tax break, it's only the relaxation and reduction of a tax break because farmers still will not pay the same levels of inheritance tax that everybody else does on their land."
The committee noted the notice of motion.
Don't miss the latest news and analysis with our regular North West newsletters – sign up here for free