Minister defends 'fair and proportionate' tax changes after farmer protest
Farmers protested inheritance tax changes outside the Welsh Labour conference, as ITV News Political Correspondent Carl Dinnen reports
The transport secretary has defended tax changes to farmers' inheritance rules as "fair and proportionate" after a protest was staged outside the Welsh Labour conference while the prime minister made a speech.
Sir Keir hailed a "path of change" with Labour governments in Wales and Westminster at the conference on Saturday and said he would defend the Autumn budget "all day long".
However, farmers opposing the inheritance tax changes the Chancellor unveiled protested in their tractors outside.
Gareth Wyn Jones, a Welsh farmer and YouTuber, said farmers would deliver Sir Keir a letter which starts: “Don’t bite the hand that feed you.”
"We think the measures we set out are fair and proportionate"
On Sunday Transport Secretary Louise Haigh told ITV News farmers in the UK would be protected with reforms that meant 50% of food procured by public institutions is produced in the UK.
But she added: "Difficult decisions had to be made at the budget thanks to the financial settlement that we inherited and we think the measures we set out are fair and proportionate."
The Welsh Conservatives Leader Andrew Davies said Labour was "costing thousands of jobs and decimating rural Wales".
Labour won 27 out of 32 Parliamentary seats in Wales in the general election, wiping out the Conservatives, who now have no MPs in Wales.
At the conference, First Minister Eluned Morgan said that communities in Wales and across the UK are ready for an exciting new era, with “Labour Wales and Labour Britain” pulling in the same direction with the “full force of our union”.
Baroness Morgan, who took over as the leader of Welsh Labour in August, announced £22 million to tackle NHS waiting lists in Wales, in addition to £28 million already pledged.
Sir Keir Starmer speaks at the Welsh Labour conference.
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The prime minister called the Budget allocation for Wales of £21bn unveiled last month “a record figure”.
He said: “£21 billion for Wales next year – a record figure. That is the path of change.
“I will defend facing up to the harsh light of fiscal reality.
“I will defend the tough decisions that would necessary to stabilise our economy and I will defend protecting the pay slips of working people, fixing the foundations of our economy and investing in the future of Britain and the future of Wales, finally turning the page on austerity once and for all.”
Farmers were seen travelling to the Welsh Labour conference in a tractor convoy ahead of their protest.
Farmer Gareth Wyn Jones told Sky News: “They’re destroying an industry that’s already on its knees and struggling, absolutely struggling, mentally, emotionally and physically.
"We need government support, not more hindrance, so we can produce food to feed the nation.”
Mr Wyn Jones disputed the government’s estimation that only 500 farming estates in the UK will be affected by the inheritance tax changes.
The protest organisers, Digon yw Digon, said: “Enough is enough. Our Government isn’t working or listening to us.
“This is an opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with farmers and rural communities.
“We call on everyone to attend in solidarity — whether by walking, driving, or bringing agricultural vehicles such as tractors, slurry tankers, lorries, or 4x4s with trailers.”
ITV News reporter Louisa Britton explains why the inheritance tax changes and why farmers are angry.
The Welsh protest comes ahead of two planned protests in central London on Tuesday.
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is holding a mass lobby of MPs on Tuesday, with 1,800 members gathering in Westminster, with a separate rally taking place on the same day opposite Downing Street.
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