'I owe it to my kids and ancestors to protest'

A fifth generation farmer has described a new inheritance tax on farms as "an attack on the countryside".

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in last month's Budget that a 20% tax would be introduced in April 2026 on inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m, or £3m for married farmers.

Joe Hamer, who owns Arscott Farm near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, is taking part in a large rally in London on Tuesday, organised by the National Farmers' Union (NFU).

The government has said the vast majority of farmers will not be affected by the reduction of agricultural property relief.

The relief has allowed small family farms to be exempt from inheritance tax since 1984.

"The tax won't affect me at all," said Mr Hamer.

"But it will impact on my kids, and I've got the rest of my life to make sure that everything is in place so their tax liabilities are as low as possible."

Mr Hamer is taking his six-year-old daughter to London to take part in the NFU rally, in which thousands of farmers are expected to attend.

The NFU hopes the mass lobby in Westminster will put pressure on the government to reverse the decision.

"We open on Saturday for the sale of Christmas trees, so the last thing I want to do is lose a day of getting things ready by going down to London, but I owe it to my kids," Mr Hamer said.

"I also owe it to my ancestors, who bought the farm, built the farm, and gave me the chance of doing it.

"I want my kids to have the same opportunity that I had," he added.

Mr Hamer's farm is worth more than £1m, so it is liable to be taxed from next April, depending on his circumstances and land value.

The government said it was committed to supporting farmers and rural communities, including helping families to pass their land on to the next generation.

The new farm inheritance tax of 20% is half the usual rate of 40% and can be paid in instalments over 10 years, interest free.

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