Interview by Jasmine Birtles
NO FARMERS NO FOOD founder James Melville says the under-fire industry are trying to put “as much pressure as possible” on the UK Government to make a U-turn on their inheritance taxation of farmers.
Melville has described Labour’s inclusion of a 20 per cent inheritance tax as an “existential threat to the farming industry” and says it could end up with farms being vulnerable to compulsory purchases by local authorities or mega corporations.
Melville said: “To pay for this inheritance tax they will likely have to sell land.”
That land is then likely to be used for the Government’s insistence on achieving Net Zero, with Green Belt land earmarked for solar panels. “What right do the Government have to tell farmers what to do with their business?” added Melville.
Farmers planned a protest on November 19 – but the National Farmers’ Union has since declined to back the demonstration.
The Union told members on Wednesday that there are “legal issues” which mean they “can’t simply turn up in numbers in Westminster in the streets or the open spaces”.
But that suggests the Government allows protests for some issues but not for others – a dangerous precedent. News Uncut understands that some farmers will, however, still protest on that date regardless.
Watch our interview with James Melville with a paid subscription. Upgrade to a paid member for just £3.50 per month and help fund News Uncut’s independent journalism.
