The Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, has condemned the Government for their “continuous neglect” of Berkshire’s farmers during a visit to Newbury today (Friday 5 December), calling on Labour MPs to “finally do the right thing” and vote down Family Farm Tax plans in the upcoming Finance Bill.
The Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, has condemned the Government for their “continuous neglect” of Berkshire’s farmers during a visit to Henwick farm near Newbury on Friday 5 December, calling on Labour MPs to “finally do the right thing” and vote down Family Farm Tax plans in the upcoming Finance Bill.
Visiting with MP Lee Dillon, Ed Davey even helped feed the cattle — the Lib Dem leader is also known for his bungy jumping stunts.
The party this week launched proposals for a farming equivalent to Teach First: a two-year salaried training programme designed to attract young people into agriculture and give them a clear career path. Official Government statistics show only 1 in 20 farmers are aged under 35 across the UK, and the Lib Dems warn of a “lost generation of farmers” unless action is taken.
They are urging the Government to recognise farming as a vital lifeline for the nation’s food security and to change its approach to support rural communities. Ed also highlighted the positive local and national economic impact of Berkshire’s agricultural sector.
There are nearly 500 agricultural holdings in Newbury, and Berkshire is one of several counties in and around the South East that contributed around £605m to the economy last year.
This week the Liberal Democrats voted against the tax on family farms while Labour voted for it in the Commons. Ahead of the crunch Finance Bill vote, Ed Davey said Labour MPs must “urgently change course”.
“This Government has punished farmers every step of the way since coming into power, and the disastrous family farm tax will hamper our rural communities and drive young farmers away from the profession,” he said.
“This tax will do untold damage to farmers and food production, and it was disappointing to see Labour MPs vote for the tax this week. However, it is not too late. Labour MPs need to urgently change course, and finally do the right thing for Berkshire farmers by ensuring that this is stopped.”
Lee Dillon said: “The agricultural community is the lifeblood of my Newbury constituency, but instead of supporting them, this Government seems hell-bent on making life as difficult as possible for farmers.
“Instead of punishing farmers, ministers need to start prioritising them, and they can start with voting against the Family Farm Tax. Punishing farmers hurts our food security, which in turn hurts our national security too.
“Liberal Democrats will continue to lead the charge against this unfair tax hike, to protect family farms and rural communities who are being taken for granted.”
Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter
