Stuart Anderson MP has responded to the Environment Secretary's Speech at the National Farmers' Union (NFU) Conference in London on Tuesday, 25th February 2025. He has said that it was a "missed opportunity to positively reset relations with farmers", after months of protest following the announcement of a significant reduction in inheritance relief for family farms. The changes, which were announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the Autumn Budget in October, are expected to cost farming families tens of thousands of pounds upon the death of a farmer.
Stuart added that the "sudden and significant" reduction in inheritance relief support has undermined confidence in the farming sector and has fuelled a mental health crisis in farming communities, after the Farm Safety Foundation reported an upsurge in demand for its services. The changes mean that a 20% inheritance tax will be charged on estates with business and agricultural assets worth more than £1 million for the first time since the relief was introduced in 1984 to protect Britain's family farms from being sold and broken up. The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has estimated that 75% of family farms are above the £1 million threshold.
In a letter to the Environment Secretary, Stuart has promoted the importance of continued investment in farmer's mental health, after Ministers confirmed the closure, in March, of a scheme that has supported tens of thousands of farmers since 2022. Set up by the previous government, the Farming Resilience Fund (FRF) has delivered free support to more than 25,000 farmers, including in South Shropshire. Ministers have now said the scheme will end in March 2024. This is despite them admitting that feedback has received has been "overwhelmingly positive."
The scheme was originally set up to support farmers and land managers in the first few years of the agricultural transition after the UK's withdrawal from the EU. One of the scheme's key objectives has been to support the mental health and wellbeing of farmers. It has seen a range of workshops, business advice, and visits delivered to farmers across the country.
Stuart has said that the support is needed "more than ever", after it emerged that requests for counselling services provided by the Farm Safety Foundation more than doubled. The charity has also seen an upsurge in calls to its crisis support line since the Autumn Budget in October. In the last quarter of 2024, 1,370 farms and agricultural businesses have closed for good. A survey by frozen food manufacturer, McCain, has found that half of farmers have reconsidered their future in the sector – with 55% adding that the strain on mental health has been a primary factor.
Stuart is pleased that the Environment Secretary has heeded his calls to back British produce, as he unveiled plans to ensure at least 50% of food supplied into the £5 billion public sector catering contracts is from British producers. Earlier in the month, Stuart had called for it to be made "as easy as possible" to buy locally produced food after it emerged that the UK relies on imports for roughly 40% of its food. In addition, Stuart welcomed a £110 million boost to investment in technology, after he urged Ministers to improve agricultural productivity. It includes more funding for the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund. This provides grants of up to £25,000 to buy new equipment that helps farmers to drive up productivity, manage slurry and improve animal health and welfare.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"The Environment Secretary's Speech at the National Farmers' Union is a missed opportunity to positively reset relations with farmers after a tumultuous few months following the sudden and significant reduction in inheritance tax relief for farming families. Alongside other measures in the Autumn Budget, this has drastically undermined confidence in the farming sector – with thousands of farms closing for good since October. It has also fuelled a mental health crisis in farming communities, with half of farmers now reconsidering their future in the sector. Continued investment in farmer's mental health is needed more than ever. So, Ministers should continue the advice available via the Farming Resilience Fund that was set up by the previous government."
