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The Farmers Fight

(793 Posts)
Sarnia Mon 18-Nov-24 08:46:41

Infuriated farmers will be protesting against Labour's 'Tractor Tax' opposite Downing Street tomorrow. They are being asked not to bring farm machinery but I hope they clutter up Whitehall with every tractor and combine harvester they can lay their hands on. Reeves claims 'only' 20% of farms will be affected by her latest smash and grab raid but economists say it is nearer 70%. Has it not figured in her brain that if farmers, who already struggle to make ends meet, chuck in the towel, there will be a serious food shortage?

Fleurpepper Wed 20-Nov-24 12:00:01

Allira

LizzieDrip

The total ignorance to not understand the difference is astounding. I think much comes down to jealousy, some to the point of vindictiveness. There's precious little evidence of any cognitive understanding how farming and farms work. It's a unique business model that actually feeds us through hard relentless graft

Ok Rosie, as I’m apparently ignorant, jealous and vindictive, please explain to me why farmers’ children deserve to inherit their parents’ farm more than my daughter deserves to inherit our family home.

I’m all ears - even in my ignorance, jealousy and vindictiveness.

If you don't understand, even after reading the thread, watching the news, reading reports (🤔) then there is just no point in trying to explain.

Most of us do know the difference. But many here don't seem to know the difference with real farmers, and those who bought masses of land just as investment, to avoid paying IHT.

As the post above explains, very few real farmers will be affected- up to 3 million exempt. And if family want to continue, all they have is to put in Trust.

It is totally possible to support our farmers, but with the facts in the open- and to decry the likes of Clarkson, Farage and others- who treat farming as just another opportunity to avoid Tax. Not Tax 'to the Goverment' as Clarkson says, but to education, health, social service, care for the infirm and elderly, roads, environment, security, police, army, and so much more.

MayBee70 Wed 20-Nov-24 11:56:12

So, what did farmers do before 1984 when they had to pay inheritance tax?

Fleurpepper Wed 20-Nov-24 11:55:11

Why are the rich to blame for ‘ethnically cleansing’ the countryside of farmers?
Those who want to protect farmers should consider the damage being wrought by TV presenters looking to escape IHT.
Jeremy Clarkson accused the government of having a “sinister plan” to “ethnically cleanse” the British countryside of farmers earlier this month – but the real culprits are tax-reducing millionaires such as himself.
Data collected by property consultants Strutt & Parker show farmers are increasingly being squeezed out of the agricultural land market by wealthy investors.
While non-farmers were responsible for less than a third of farmland purchases in 2010, by last year this had risen to 56 per cent.
The findings coincide with data that shows in the last year alone, 400,000 hectares (988,422 acres) of agricultural land has been taken out of use for farming.
The analysis links this to financial advice that recommends potential tax breaks of investing in farmland, which by his own admission, is precisely why Clarkson got involved.
Those wanting greater protections for farmers should consider the damage being wrought by TV presenters looking to escape IHT!

(borrowed with permission).

theworriedwell Wed 20-Nov-24 11:47:43

SueDonim

LizzieDrip

The total ignorance to not understand the difference is astounding. I think much comes down to jealousy, some to the point of vindictiveness. There's precious little evidence of any cognitive understanding how farming and farms work. It's a unique business model that actually feeds us through hard relentless graft

Ok Rosie, as I’m apparently ignorant, jealous and vindictive, please explain to me why farmers’ children deserve to inherit their parents’ farm more than my daughter deserves to inherit our family home.

I’m all ears - even in my ignorance, jealousy and vindictiveness.

The difference is, your dd doesn’t depend on inheriting your house to make a living. Take away part of a farm’s ability to make money (sell off the tractors, say, to pay the bill) and you take away the farmers livelihood.

I don't know about other family businesses and their tax situation but it isn't only farmers' children who need to inherit the home if they want to carry on the business and make a living. Thinking of a family I know who live in a big house that is home to a number of people with learning difficulties. If the family have to sell the home off to pay taxes not only will their children be homeless without an income but the people they have cared for for years will also be homeless.

I don't know if the changes affect them.

Anniebach Wed 20-Nov-24 11:41:51

Farage in a Barbour jacket and wellies in London !

I certainly do not support every farmer

vegansrock Wed 20-Nov-24 03:03:53

I wonder why those who do not support every farmer 100% are labelled “ jealous and vindictive”? Jealous of what exactly? Maybe those multi millionaire landowners who owns swathes of land, huge houses with no mortgage, expensive cars, horses and ponies for the kids, rent out their land to poor tenant farmers ( those are the ones we really should support) are the ones to get hit and rightly so. Having Jeremy Clarkson and Nigel Farage in his wellies and Barbour jacket as poster boys is doing the really struggling no favours.

vegansrock Wed 20-Nov-24 02:21:38

I think most people agree that those who claim to have “agricultural” land and avoid IHT should be clamped down on. Trouble is, this would include swathes of the countryside owned by landed gentry and aristocracy who own 30% of the UK land. They are using the “poor farmers” as a cover to avoid paying tax .

Jannicans Wed 20-Nov-24 01:06:23

Hope Aussie polls don't get wind of that tax or they'll jump on it first.

NotSpaghetti Wed 20-Nov-24 00:58:16

I'm afraid I read it as a personal attack on Lizzie, Allira because Rosie51 said Your statement here demonstrates pure envy. I did read that as rather rude.

I personally do not think any family home should be exempt to be honest.

However if agricultural businesses are exempt (up to a level) I don't see why some other "public good" businesses are not.

Rosie51 Wed 20-Nov-24 00:21:19

SueDonim 👏👏👏
You wouldn't think it's such a hard concept to grasp, but there are so many that don't seem able to.

It's almost like farm land and successful farms can be conjured up and dropped anywhere.

SueDonim Wed 20-Nov-24 00:14:39

LizzieDrip

^The total ignorance to not understand the difference is astounding. I think much comes down to jealousy, some to the point of vindictiveness. There's precious little evidence of any cognitive understanding how farming and farms work. It's a unique business model that actually feeds us through hard relentless graft^

Ok Rosie, as I’m apparently ignorant, jealous and vindictive, please explain to me why farmers’ children deserve to inherit their parents’ farm more than my daughter deserves to inherit our family home.

I’m all ears - even in my ignorance, jealousy and vindictiveness.

The difference is, your dd doesn’t depend on inheriting your house to make a living. Take away part of a farm’s ability to make money (sell off the tractors, say, to pay the bill) and you take away the farmers livelihood.

SueDonim Wed 20-Nov-24 00:11:29

mabon1

The farmers have forgotten how much they have bee subsidised since World War 11. How many other family businesses have had money thrown at them for 80 years?

Maybe if people were prepared to pay the price that food actually costs, eg paying a living wage across the world instead of depending on cheap labour to produce cheap food, there’d be no need for subsidies.

Rosie51 Tue 19-Nov-24 23:56:23

LizzieDrip

^it is worrying that some people equate levying IHT on a parents' house with that on a food-producing farm^

Allira if you read the thread, you will see that I’m not equating those two things.

But you have! You've constantly said why should farmer families inherit IHT free while your daughter can't. You've taken glee in some farmers being unable to take advantage of the 7 year rule for gifts. At least be honest. You've shown not a smidgeon of understanding about a working farm being a very different proposition to a family home. GrannyGravy13 put you right about limited companies and their tax exemptions but still you've persevered, and didn't even acknowledge your lack of knowledge about limited companies.

escaped Tue 19-Nov-24 22:54:45

That's good to hear, Sago. Camaraderie is a fitting word. It isn't just camaraderie amongst farmers, its camaraderie in their community too. As the snow starts to fall around the country, who is it who helps spread salt on the roads or helps tow stranded cars out of ditches? Who is it who often helps move fallen trees? And all this on top of their 24/7 job.

Sago Tue 19-Nov-24 22:35:23

We were baby sitting our grandchildren in Cheshire/Shropshire area so our daughter could go and protest.
She came home a couple of hours ago exhilarated.
She said the camaraderie was incredible, it was a peaceful, respectful and hopefully effective march.

I hope and pray it helps, her very close friend spoke on GB news this morning, they are genuinely frightened for the future, they are such a wonderful hardworking young family but the farm will possibly end with them.

Allira Tue 19-Nov-24 22:18:34

LizzieDrip

^it is worrying that some people equate levying IHT on a parents' house with that on a food-producing farm^

Allira if you read the thread, you will see that I’m not equating those two things.

Ok Rosie, as I’m apparently ignorant, jealous and vindictive, please explain to me why farmers’ children deserve to inherit their parents’ farm more than my daughter deserves to inherit our family home.

So, those inheriting a farm are more deserving than those unable to inherit their parents’ home?

Oh, perhaps those kinds of statement, plus others, is why you assumed I meant you?

Apologies if that is not what you meant.

Allira Tue 19-Nov-24 22:12:17

LizzieDrip

^it is worrying that some people equate levying IHT on a parents' house with that on a food-producing farm^

Allira if you read the thread, you will see that I’m not equating those two things.

You seem to be taking comments personally 🤔

LizzieDrip Tue 19-Nov-24 22:05:54

it is worrying that some people equate levying IHT on a parents' house with that on a food-producing farm

Allira if you read the thread, you will see that I’m not equating those two things.

GrannyGravy13 Tue 19-Nov-24 22:04:50

mabon1

The farmers have forgotten how much they have bee subsidised since World War 11. How many other family businesses have had money thrown at them for 80 years?

They feed us!

LizzieDrip Tue 19-Nov-24 22:01:46

Rosie’s comment directly to me at 21:11:

Your statement here demonstrates pure envy

mabon1 Tue 19-Nov-24 22:00:28

The farmers have forgotten how much they have bee subsidised since World War 11. How many other family businesses have had money thrown at them for 80 years?

Allira Tue 19-Nov-24 21:50:01

LizzieDrip

I resent being called envious Rosie.

I have tried to avoid name calling and derogatory personal comments on this thread - despite many being on the tip of my tongue.

I do not agree with your comments but I’ll leave it there.

🤔

I assumed Rosie51's comments were a generalisation and did not seem to be a personal attack but it is worrying that some people equate levying IHT on a parents' house with that on a food-producing farm, as the difference is quite obvious.

LizzieDrip Tue 19-Nov-24 21:41:37

I resent being called envious Rosie.

I have tried to avoid name calling and derogatory personal comments on this thread - despite many being on the tip of my tongue.

I do not agree with your comments but I’ll leave it there.

Allira Tue 19-Nov-24 21:20:21

merlotgran

Some people just can’t see beyond the farmhouse, the car in the drive and kiddies’ ponies in the paddock - if they’re there at all and not a figment of the imagination.

They also can’t imagine what it must be like to work for the farmer as a tractor driver or stockman and lose your livelihood and possibly your home if the farm has to be sold and you’re the wrong side of fifty.

Yes, the house is irrelevant really.

If the land is fertile does that attract more IHT because it is more valuable?

The equipment? Presumably tractors, combine harvesters etc are included in the assets when calculating IHT, as with a household's assets which have to be listed now?

This is a tax introduced by someone who really has no clue whatsoever about food production.

Its advocates have no idea either.

Oreo Tue 19-Nov-24 21:17:32

LizzieDrip

^A parents' home will be sold, a family farm will pass down through the generations, producing food for you and others^

So, those inheriting a farm are more deserving than those unable to inherit their parents’ home?

In a word, yes!
Farms produce food be it livestock and/or planted crops and if it just becomes too much taxes wise then young adults, the children of farming families will just have to sell up as it won’t be worth it.
It’s yet another really odd policy by Labour and a direct consequence of not putting up income tax and NI meaning they are scrabbling round trying to save money by angering both farmers and pensioners.Am wondering what’s coming next tbh and getting a bit worried about their performance so far.🙀