Stuart Anderson MP has demanded an apology from the government following its climbdown on the Family Farm and Business Tax announced before Christmas.
It comes as food inflation reached 3.3 per cent in December 2025 - up from three per cent in November, with fresh produce rising to 3.8 per cent from 3.6 per cent previously.
In Parliament on Monday 5th January 2026, Stuart expressed the heartache and distress that changes to inheritance tax announced in the 2024 Autumn Budget have caused farming families across South Shropshire.
In October 2024, the newly elected Labour government announced the removal of Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) for combined business and property assets that are valued over £1 million. This sparked widespread protests across the country, with farmers worried for their farm’s future.
In South Shropshire, Stuart has led opposition to the policy. Prior to the Budget, Stuart had cautioned against the changes. He then became one of the first MP's to call out the decision after it was announced. Stuart also welcomed Shadow Farming Minister Robbie Moore MP to a farm near Craven Arms in March 2025. Stuart voted numerous times against the policy and has repeatedly raised the concerns of farmers on the floor of the House of Commons.
On Monday 15th December 2025, Prime Minister admitted to knowing that some farmers planned to end their lives to save their farms for their children. It follows several cases of farmer suicide linked to fears over the proposed changes.
The government has consistently claimed that policy would "target larger estates.” However, farming representatives included the NFU have shown that it would hurt many agricultural businesses that are asset-rich but cash-poor - with knock-on effects for both business investment and farm viability.
According to the Country Land and Business Association, 80 per cent of farmers are concerned for the survival of their businesses and 60 per cent have considered selling their farm. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data indicates that a record 6,270 agriculture, forestry, and fishing businesses ceased trading between October 2024 and September 2025.
On 23rd December 2025, Farming Secretary Emma Reynolds revealed a major U-turn. After fourteen months of constant campaigning, the Government announced that the allowance for 100% rate of relief will be increased from £1 million to £2.5 million.
This means a couple will now be able to pass on up to £5 million of agricultural or business assets tax-free between them, on top of the existing allowances such as the nil-rate band. Taken together with the reform announced at Budget 2025, which made any unused allowance transferable between spouses or civil partners, widows and widowers will benefit from up to £2.5 million of their spouse’s allowance, even if their spouse passed away many years ago.
However, Stuart has said that the concessions come far too late for too many family farms in South Shropshire and beyond which have already closed for good. He said the tax must be totally scrapped.
Despite more farms now being exempt from the tax, Stuart took the first opportunity as Parliament returned from its Christmas Recess to ask Ministers to go further, as well as thanking farmers for the “tireless” campaign that has led to the climbdown.
At Monday’s Urgent Question, Stuart asked Ministers to “apologise for all the heartache” that the proposals have caused and to now “scrap this tax completely.”
In Parliament, Stuart Anderson MP said:
“I thank all the South Shropshire farmers and businesses for their tireless campaign. They were continually told by the Government that they were wrong, but they have now been proved right. They are still telling me that this tax is wrong. The family farm tax is not right. Will the Minister apologise for the heartache, pain and suffering that he has caused South Shropshire farmers and businesses, and scrap the tax completely?”
After the debate, Stuart said:
“Backing our farmers is a key part of my plan for South Shropshire. They are integral to national food security. I am glad that we have finally secured the government's climbdown on its Family Farm and Business Tax. However, more than six thousand farms have already closed under Labour’s watch, causing irreparable damage to the rural economy. It is no surprise that food prices are rising quickly under Labour, as they have punished businesses and hiked taxes. Ministers must now apologise for the heartache and distress that they have caused and axe the tax before further harm is caused by it.”
The current changes are due to come into effect from 6 April 2026. It will be the first time that this support has been reduced since 1984. Stuart's centralised support portal includes more details of the planned changes and support available to farmers.
