Priti Patel, Member of Parliament for Witham, recently visited Lord Rayleigh’s Farms to hear directly about the growing pressures facing the agricultural sector.
The visit, hosted by Lord Rayleigh, provided an opportunity to discuss the severe practical and financial impacts that Labour’s unnecessary reforms will have on the sector.
Concerns were raised over the upcoming changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT) relief, which would significantly undermine the ability of family farms to pass holdings onto the next generation. Farmers across the UK have stressed the long-term nature of their work, the importance of intergenerational continuity, and the risk these changes pose to the future viability of British agriculture.
Labour’s decision to remove Basic Payment Scheme support in a single step, rather than a phased reduction, is an abrupt change that has significantly increased financial uncertainty and strain for many farms who had been preparing for a more gradual transition. On top of this, a fertiliser tax is set to be introduced from January 2027, which will increase costs further and penalise food producers already grappling with Labour’s incoherent and punitive approach to the agricultural sector. Such a tax, without viable alternatives, risks pushing down domestic productivity and increasing reliance on imports.
Speaking after the visit, Priti said:
“I am grateful to Lord Rayleigh for hosting me and for offering such a clear and constructive insight into the pressures facing British farming. There are real, material concerns that affect food security, rural jobs and the long-term stewardship of our countryside – with increasing costs and a completely muddled strategy, this Labour government have shown they fundamentally do not understand business, rural communities and farmers.”
The visit is part of Priti’s ongoing engagement with the agricultural sector in the Witham constituency and commitment to championing rural communities in Westminster.
