DOZENS of tractors took to the Edinburgh City Bypass yesterday morning to protest changes to inheritance tax as set out by the UK Government’s autumn budget.
The Stop the Family Farm Tax rally was organised by the National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFU Scotland) and took place across eight different locations over the weekend.
Tractors formed a convoy on the dual carriageway, brandishing signs with slogans such as “No farms, no food” and “wearin’ wellies, fillin’ bellies”.
This is just one of many protests that have taken place across the city after changes to inheritance tax mean agricultural assets worth more than £1m will be taxed at 20%.
As well as the bypass, rallies were held in Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway, Perth, the Highlands, and Orkney.
They were originally set to take place the weekend before, but were postposed due to the extreme weather warnings caused by Storm Éowyn.
NFU Scotland’s president stated last week: “Scotland’s farmers and crofters have once again demonstrated their key, but often unnoticed, role in rural communities by helping with the clear up operations following the devastating storm last Friday.
“Our decision to postpone events was welcomed and commended by emergency services.
“These events however were planned as part of a UK-wide day of action to send yet another loud and clear message to Westminster that proposed inheritance tax changes would have a devasting impact on prime producers, threaten our family farms and national food security.
“It was great to see to see so many well-supported events take place in England, Wales and Northern Ireland go ahead as planned and this weekend Scotland’s farmers, crofters and supporters will have that opportunity too.
“NFU Scotland representatives will be in Westminster this week to meet with a range of MPs to raise the serious concerns of our members.
“The tractor rallies are just part of our wider, ongoing fight, alongside the other UK farming Unions, to get these taxation proposals reviewed by the UK Government as we campaign to #StopTheFamilyFarmTax.”
Representatives from the union met with MPs in Westminster last week to discuss the policy’s impact on family farms.
They said: “The announcement of proposed IHT changes have sent shockwaves through the farming community, causing untold stress for many whose livelihoods depend on the very existence of their family farm.
“These devastating proposals must change to avoid the serious negative impact these outcomes would have on growth and employment in the agricultural sector, the wider rural economy and on the nation’s food security.
“Given the chancellor of exchequer Rachel Reeves MP’s comments on the proposed IHT changes on Sunday, it’s now more important than ever that we push a strong message to the UK Government and deliver the hard evidence of what this will mean for the sector, directly to government.
Last weekend, a National Day of Action was planned by NFU Scotland, NFU, NFU Cymru and Ulster Farmers Union, to highlight the industry’s concern directly to the government.
“In order to assist with clear-up efforts following destruction caused by Storm Éowyn, NFU Scotland chose to reschedule plans for this weekend, 1 and 2 February.”
