County Durham farmer says failure to reverse inheritance tax change could mean loss of family farms

ITV Tyne Tees political correspondent Tom Sheldrick was in central London where thousands of farmers have descended to protest against inheritance tax changes.

A North East farmer has warned a failure to reverse the government's changes to inheritance tax will mark the "end of family farming in this country as we know it".

Clare Wise, from County Durham, spoke at a rally on Tuesday (19 November) in Westminster, where she was joined by thousands of farmers from across the region and nation protesting about the policy.

Currently farms are exempt from inheritance tax, but from April 2026, it will be charged at 20% on farm assets worth more than £1 million.

The government says that, in practice, a couple will be able to pass on up to £3 million pounds to family members tax free - with the help of other allowances.

Speaking to ITV Tyne Tees at the rally, she said: “I know today is going to make a difference to every farmer standing here today and every farmer in this country will carry on stepping out in events like these until the government changes its mind. We will not back down on this.”

A fifth generation farmer, Clare farms sheep, cattle and crops on land in Little Stainton, near Stockton, that has been in her family for more than 130 years.

The mum-of-three said the government's plans for the industry had left her "devastated, betrayed and really frightened for our future".

Clare Wise spoke to ITV Tyne Tees at the rally in London

"If we don't reverse this it is the end of family farming as we know it in this country," said Clare, speaking from Manor Farm on Monday.

"In one day they've taken away the future for my children and for food production in this area," she continued.

"My farm's a very normal, average, family-sized farm - it's worth probably in the region of three to four million. But I don't have that money in the bank, it's just on paper.

"So, for my family, if I die tomorrow they'll have to find nearly half a million pounds in tax. There's no option for them other than to sell the farm, the business, their home and lose food production."

Clare, a member of the National Farmers’ Union Livestock Board, said the end goal of the farmers' journey to London was to reverse the family farm tax.

"We are quite happy to pay tax on our profits but ultimately the land that we have is an asset that can't afford to be taxed," she continued.

"You don't ask a workman to sell his tools and carrying on working - that's what the government is asking us to do."

Mark Mather, a mixed farmer from Wooler, in Northumberland, was also at the rally.

He said it was important for farmers to show solidarity in the face of the changes.

“Its the multiple impacts that the industry’s taking and we just can't take it anymore," he said. “The extra taxes, the Natural Insurance rise, and the potential fertiliser tax.

“As an industry that doesn't set its end price, there just isn't the profit to pay the bills.

“They've got to realise that we produce the highest health, the highest welfare food and we should be proud of that and they should be proud of what we do as well.”

Matt Vickers, the MP for Stockton West, condemned Labour's plans for farmers as "absolutely the wrong thing to do”.

“Farmers aren't wealthy people, they have a huge capital but actually they operate on very small margins, they work day and night for what is actually very little income," he told ITV News. “The impact on people is dire.

“I've had people emailing me who are traumatised by what is going to happen to their family farm that they've been handed down, knowing that they may well be the last generation that is able to farm that land and that their children may not be able to carry on the way of life they have lead.”

The government says farmers are the backbone of Britain but they have had to make difficult decisions to invest in public services.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, said: “Farmers are the backbone of Britain, and we recognise the strength of feeling expressed by farming and rural communities in recent weeks.

"We are steadfast in our commitment to Britain’s farming industry because food security is national security."

In a joint statement, Ms Reeves and Mr Reed added: “It's why we are investing £5 billion into farming over the next two years – the largest amount ever directed towards sustainable food production, rural economic growth and nature’s recovery in our country’s history.

“But with public services crumbling and a £22 billion fiscal hole that this Government inherited, we have taken difficult decisions.

“The reforms to Agricultural Property Relief ensure that wealthier estates and the most valuable farms pay their fair share to invest in our schools and health services that farmers and families in rural communities rely on."

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