- Three in five Brits expect food prices to rise because of family farm tax
- Wendy Chamberlain appointed carer’s charity Vice President
Three in five Brits expect food prices to rise because of family farm tax
Shocking new research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats reveals that almost 60% of Brits expect food prices to rise because of the Family Farm Tax announced in the Budget. The Liberal Democrats have tabled an amendment to reject the government’s Finance Bill, given the impact of the budget on family farms.
The ways in which Brits are planning to cope with the price increase are even more worrying, with almost half (44%) of those expecting rises admitting they will buy cheaper alternatives if food prices do rise.
A further 35% of those expecting rises reveal that they will cut back on the food they buy as a direct result of the tax hike revealed by the government in the budget.
The poll reveals the serious effect food price rises could have on people’s health. With 18% of those expecting rises revealing they are likely to buy less fresh fruit and vegetables if prices go up because of the family farm tax.
The impact on small businesses and the high street is also apparent, with 20% of this group saying they will look to shop from bigger supermarkets. This is another hit to small businesses already concerned about the rise in employers’ NIC increase, and the impact the bus fare cap may have on people visiting their local high street.
The Liberal Democrats are urging the government to scrap the family farm tax, arguing that the impact of the tax hike goes far beyond farming communities. Brits across the country are worried about the price of their food shop increasing as a result. The party have tabled an amendment to reject the government’s Finance Bill, given the impact of the budget on family farms.
The Liberal Democrats are also urging the government to support their pledge to commit an extra £1bn boost to the farming budget as well as expanding free-school meals for all children in poverty.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain MP said:
We will fight this disastrous tax hike every step of the way, and make sure that the voices of rural communities are represented in Westminster. We understand the impact of this tax hike goes beyond rural communities- families and pensioners across the country will also be hit if food prices go up.
The Chancellor’s budget shows that the new government does not understand rural communities or farmers and how critical they are to food security, to the protection of our natural environment and to the British economy.
We are urging the government to axe the tax now, or else the impact will be felt for millions across the country already struggling to make ends meet.
Wendy Chamberlain appointed carer’s charity Vice President
Carers UK is delighted to announce Wendy Chamberlain MP as a new Vice-President at the charity.
The Member of Parliament for North East Fife, and Liberal Democrat Chief Whip, played a pivotal role in championing and supporting the passage of the Carer’s Leave Act, which came into force in April 2024.
This groundbreaking legislation originated from a Private Member’s Bill that Wendy brought forward two years ago. It provides dedicated employment rights to 2.3 million unpaid carers across Great Britain who are juggling paid employment alongside their caring responsibilities. The new law gives employees up to five days of unpaid Carer’s Leave per year for planned caring activities for older, ill or disabled relatives and friends.
The announcement comes hot on the heels of new research published by Carers UK on the Carer’s Leave Act showing that it has made a difference to carers’ lives, but that it would have an even greater impact if the entitlement was made into paid Carer’s Leave. 600 people a day give up work completely because of a lack of flexibility and support to work and care, often with a major impact on income.
Announcing Wendy as a Vice-President, Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK said:
We are thrilled that Wendy is taking on the role of Vice-President for the charity which is an honorary position. Her clear vision and passion for change has helped to make life better for millions of unpaid carers.
Her dedication and determination have already succeeded in significantly greater rights for unpaid carers in the workplace.
We look forward to continuing to work with Wendy to ensure carers get the support they need and deserve – including securing a right to paid Carer’s Leave.
Wendy Chamberlain MP said:
I feel deeply honoured to be made a Vice-President at Carers UK. They were instrumental in helping me with the Carer’s Leave Act and have provided continual support throughout the process.
For them to privilege me with this position truly means a lot, everyone at Carers UK is an absolute champion for carer’s rights, and I can’t wait to be part of such an incredible team.
I look forward to continuing to work closely as part of Carers UK, advocating for carer’s rights and raising their profile in Parliament.
Nick Baird CMG, CVO; Chair of Carers UK said:
As a champion for unpaid carers, Wendy continues to ensure that the voices and experiences of carers – who are so often overlooked and neglected – are heard by government and other members of parliament.
Wendy joins a group of wonderful people who have been instrumental in the history of our organisation; people who have steadily secured new rights for unpaid carers, led the way with work on carers’ rights and employment and, above all, have championed carers’ voices and rights. As the organisation turns 60 years old next year, it’s fantastic to have Wendy join as a Vice-President.
As an unpaid carer myself, I fully appreciate the voice and support that she’s given to all.
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12 Comments
We’ve generally thought Land Value Tax a good idea. Surely the effect of that would be similar, although arguably more equitable. Anyway I don’t think it’s really about family farms – it’s the huge landowners using them as a screen for their interests. Clarkson in particular, although his landholding is not that huge.
From a dairy farming family, it’s about taxing people who get up at 5.00 am to milk so they have to sell the farm. The farmhouse gets bought by weekenders as a country hideout and the fields are rented out to beef only farmers who live miles away. I’ve seen it too often. It destroys rural communities.
@Alex B….However did you manage pre-1992?
Good milk prices from the MMB.
I understand that the average dairy farm consists of about 150 hectares of grazing land, and that land is worth about £8,000 per hectare at current prices, or £1.2 million for the average dairy farm. Throw in farm buildings, a farmhouse and the like, and it’s not likely to stretch beyond £3 million in total value.
But that’s just numbers, it doesn’t address existing concerns in the farming industry about the lack of new entrants, and of children of existing farmers who simply don’t want to take over the family business.
The Government might be better off explaining what it was they genuinely hoped to achieve by this change, in which case they might have received better advice before acting as they have.
@Mark – I agree, the issue of new entrants and getting people to hand a farm on to a new entrant ie. receive £1.2m inheritance, is the major problem/challenge. For many existing farmers, particularly if none of the family are interested in continuing with the farm, it can be very tempting to accept £20~25,000 per hectare from a property speculator/developer with the farmhouse and farm buildings being a significant additional property sale…
Interesting…
Just done a search, finally found this Rural Northamptonshire: A Plan
Nowhere in this document does it outline any strategy to protect farmland. We have a government strategy and local strategies that allocate land for housing, but not strategy for agriculture land protection or enlargement. Perhaps what is necessary is a strategy for agricultural/farm land that properly designates it and protects it from urban development is required; currently it seems it is regarded as an infinite bank of land that can be drawn on for housing development…
“Three in five Brits expect food prices to rise because of family farm tax”
Really? Or nonsense?
I’d be amazed if three in five Brits had heard of the policy, let alone had a meaningful understanding of any inflationary consequences. And Wendy Chamberlain’s statement gives the impression that Lib Dem policy is based upon the opinion of this 60%.
Has the “shocking new research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats” been published?
@ Peter M,
Methodology: Savanta interviewed 2,288 UK adults aged 18+ online on 15 th to 17 th November 2024. Data were weighted to be representative of the UK by age, sex, region, and social grade.
I’ll add the results to the original posting whilst you find something for that nasty case of premature outrage you’ve developed there…
“Shocking new research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats reveals that almost 60% of Brits expect food prices to rise because of the Family Farm Tax announced in the Budget.”
Well, if Savanta go and ask Joe and Josie Bloggs whether they think a new tax on farmers is likely to raise or reduce food prices, what might you expect them to say?
I’m “shocked” that it wasn’t more than three out of five!
@Mark Valladares “Methodology: Savanta interviewed 2,288 UK adults aged 18+ online on 15 th to 17 th November 2024. Data were weighted to be representative of the UK by age, sex, region, and social grade.”
Thank you for that. Not so much for the sarcasm though! 🙂
It still seems incredible to me that 58% of people have an informed opinion on the inflationary impact of the policy, especially given the way the press release uses it along with the responses to other questions in the survey to extrapolate the consequences of the policy and as a basis for the party’s own position on this.
It would be helpful to know the context of the question, i.e what else was asked before it (might they have been leading questions) and what were the responses, have any been ignored, etc.. I couldn’t find the results on Savanta’s website or the Lib Dems’, and it just feels that when any political party makes claims about what we believe, based upon a survey, that the evidence should be entirely open and transparent to avoid claims like that in the headline being treated with scepticism. Perhaps there’s a normal delay before such things are published fully.
So we’ve abandoned evidence-based policy making in favour of opinion polls as to what the public “expects”, extrapolated into hypothetical impacts. Cool….