Meriden MP reveals dad's fears over new tax as he says 'why have you declared war on farmers?'

Meriden’s MP had a fiery exchange with the deputy Prime Minister after raising constituents' concerns over the new inheritance tax on farms. Saqib Bhatti, the MP for Meriden and Solihull East, questioned the deputy PM Angela Rayner who was standing in for Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, (November 19).

Mr Bhatti said: “Yesterday I met with three constituents in parliament. Duncan Hawley, his wife Nicola and his 10-year-old daughter Hattie.

“Duncan is a sheep farmer. He is outraged, hurt and worried about the government’s deeply damaging family farm tax. He is deeply worried about food security, food inflation and whether he will even be able to pass that farm on to future generations.

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“My question to the deputy PM is very simple - why has this Labour government declared war on British farmers?” The deputy PM replied: “I say to the honourable member and to Duncan and Nicola this government hasn’t declared war on farmers.

“The vast majority of farms will not pay any inheritance tax. We have protected them, we have been as generous as we can and the farmers rely on our public services like everybody else.

“We inherited a £22 billion black hole from the Conservatives who spent reserves three times over. We are investing in our schools, our hospitals, our public services and housing.

“If the honourable gentleman wants to suggest what he would do differently, if he doesn’t agree with that - like the leader of the opposition - then he should say so.” The MP was among the crowds of farmers that descended on London on Tuesday for a rally.

He was joined by Solihull West and Shirley MP Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst who said: “Not only have they (Labour) underestimated and undervalued the farms affected by this harsh new tax, but the knock-on effects for the whole country could be disastrous. It is why I will always stand beside our farmers from here in Solihull West and Shirley and those from across the country to show the Labour government they have made not only a bad decision, but the wrong decision."

Farm land is not currently subject to inheritance tax but from April 2026 any land worth more than £1m will be taxed upon the death of its owner at a rate of 20 per cent, half the usual rate of 40 per cent. The government says two people who own a farm jointly will be able to pass on land and property valued up to £3m tax free.

Farmers argue that while they are asset rich - for example in terms of their land and livestock - cash poor and the changes would mean they would have to sell up to be able to pay the tax.