
[KARAH RUCKER]
HUNDREDS OF TRACTORS SWARMED THE LONDON BOROUGH OF WESTMINSTER MONDAY AS FARMERS PROTESTED THE LABOUR PARTY’S UPCOMING CHANGES TO THE INHERITANCE TAX FOR OPERATIONAL FARMS.
PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO IMPOSE A 20 PERCENT INHERITANCE TAX RATE ON OPERATIONAL FARMS WORTH MORE THAN ROUGHLY ONE-POINT-TWO-MILLION DOLLARS BY APRIL OF NEXT YEAR.
THE CHANGE ELIMINATES A CURRENT EXEMPTION FROM THE INHERITANCE TAX FOR WORKING FARMS.
THE LABOUR PARTY HAS VOWED TO KEEP THE CHANGE IN THE FACE OF CRITICISM.
THE VOW COMES IN SPITE OF A PETITION WITH NEARLY 150-THOUSAND SIGNATURES URGING LAWMAKERS TO KEEP EXEMPTIONS ON THE SO-CALLED “DEATH TAX” FOR WORKING FARMS.
THE DEMONSTRATION, ORGANIZED BY SAVE BRITISH FARMING, IS THE THIRD TIME FARMERS HAVE ROLLED INTO THE CAPITAL SINCE CHANCELLOR RACHEL REEVES ANNOUNCED THE CHANGE LAST YEAR.
SAVE BRITISH FARMING SAYS DESPITE THE LABOUR PARTY’S PROMISE TO IMPLEMENT THE TAX, THEY’RE HOPEFUL THE MASS PROTEST WILL FORCE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE AG INDUSTRY.
PROTEST ORGANIZERS ALSO WARN THE GOVERNMENT COULD BE “MARCHING INTO A FOOD CRISIS.” IF NEGOTIATIONS DO NOT HAPPEN
BRITISH POLITICAL LEADERS SUCH AS NIGEL FARAGE HAVE BACKED THE MOVEMENT.
FARAGE HAS CALLED FOR AN END TO “DEATH TAXES AS HE ADDRESSED PROTESTING FARMERS.
A SAVE BRITISH FARMING ORGANIZER TOLD THE INDEPENDENT, HOWEVER, FARAGE WAS NOT INVITED TO THE DEMONSTRATION AND ACCUSED HIM OF “JUMPING ON THE BANDWAGON.”
AS STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED, FARMERS ACROSS EUROPE HAVE ROLLED INTO TOWNS WITH LARGE FARM VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT TO OPPOSE POLICIES THEY SEE AS DETRIMENTAL TO THE AG INDUSTRY.
INCLUDING DEMONSTRATIONS LAST YEAR AGAINST EUROPEAN UNION CLIMATE CHANGE POLICIES, WHICH MANY PROTESTING FARMERS SAID HURT THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE A LIVING.
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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.