Andy Burnham warned he has 'one last chance' to save family farms in Budget

Andy Burnham warned he has 'one last chance' to save family farms in Budget Farmers are calling on the new PM to reverse the so-called family farm tax Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments By Katie Harris , Senior Political Correspondent 10:02, Wed, Oct 21, 2026 Updated: 11:36, Wed, Oct 21, 2026 Farmers call for Andy Burnham to act on farm tax A desperate farmer has warned that Britain’s farming industry is facing a “ticking time bomb” as furious protesters staged a last-ditch tractor rally ahead of next week’s Budget. Labour was told it has “one last chance” to save Britain’s family farms as farmers descended on Berkshire to demand Prime Minister Andy Burnham scraps the controversial inheritance tax raid. Under the policy, farms worth more than £2.5million face inheritance tax bills that critics warn could force generations of farming families to sell off land simply to pay the taxman. Campaigners warn the tax raid could wipe out family farms that have been passed down through generations, forcing farmers to sell off land to foot crippling inheritance tax bills. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Speaking to the Daily Express at Newbury Showground, where nearly 100 tractors gathered in protest, arable farmer and organiser Dan Willis, 52, from Newbury, demanded the changes be scrapped entirely. Farmers gathered at a protest in Bekshire on Tuesday (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster) Almost 100 tractors took part in the demo (Image: JONATHAN BUCKMASTER) Andy Burnham urged to U-turn on hated farm inheritance tax raid in Budget Get personal finance news, money saving tips and advice plus selcted offers and competitions I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family . Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . He said: “Absolutely, it needs to be done away with. It’s an unfair tax. “There’s a lot of farmers here who are extremely worried about their futures. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT “My farm, I’m fifth generation, I farm in partnership with my mother in her 80s. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT “I’m sat with a ticking time bomb in some respects and it’s an unsurvivable one for me. “We have spent an inordinate amount of money on the best advice to be tax efficient. “However, at the end of the day I would have to sell the farm to enable me to pay the bill.” Shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins said of Labour: “They have one last chance to admit their mistake and to do the right thing and axe this tax in full.” She added: “They have got to acknowledge the mistake they made two years ago by bringing in this vindictive death tax on family farms and family businesses. “They’ve got to axe the family farm tax, they’ve got to axe the family business tax, and also an apology to the wider farming community and business community that they got it wrong and they must do right by them.” Farmer Dan Willis warned of the impact of the inheritance tax changes (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster) Tory Victoria Atkins is calling on Labour to scrap the family farm tax (Image: JONATHAN BUCKMASTER) Mrs Atkins said the inheritance tax changes - which the Conservatives have vowed to reverse - have had a devastating impact on farmers. She said: “There’s not just an enormous business cost to this. We know that farmers are no longer investing in their farms because why would they if they’re just going to hand them over to whoever is the Labour Chancellor, but there are some terribly sad and very serious emotional tolls that this tax has taken as well. “I know that many farming families have had very sobering and serious conversations around the kitchen table, discussing how on earth they can keep hold of their livelihoods, their family homes, their futures for their children and their grandchildren. “And I also know, and it’s been reported in the press, that some people have taken a terribly sad decision to take their own lives to avoid paying this tax when it came into force. “And as I would say to Labour ministers, what price is this tax worth? “So this is an opportunity, I hope, for Labour ministers to admit they got it wrong, to axe the tax and do right—the right thing by the countryside.” Mrs Atkins also praised the Daily Express’s Save Britain’s Family Farm crusade, saying: “I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Express because you’ve been brilliant in supporting this campaign.” Farmers are demanding the inheritance tax raid is scrapped (Image: CCHQ) Then-Chancellor Rachel Reeves used her 2024 budget to announce that farms, which were previously exempt from inheritance tax, would face a 20% rate above a £1 million threshold amid a black hole in the public finances. The measure sparked fury from farmers who have staged a series of major protest in London. They argue that while farms may appear rich on paper due to the value of land and machinery, they tend to be cash-poor. Concerns have also been raised about the UK’s food security amid growing global tensions. And there have been reports of desperate farmers pushed to the brink of suicide due to the policy. The backlash led to then-Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer raising the threshold to £2.5 million last December. But hopes have been raised that Mr Burnham could go further in next Wednesday’s Budget as he looks to repair ties with the countryside. He has faced pressure from some Labour politicians with Lord Blunkett last month branding the tax raid “a mistake”. Rural Labour MP Markus Campbell-Savours has called for the policy to be completely abandoned. The Daily Express is demanding a full U-turn with our Save Britain’s Family Farm crusade. A government spokesperson said: “We value our hardworking farmers and recognise the pressures they are under. We listened to farmers and raised the relief threshold to £2.5 million to protect smaller family farms and businesses, while ensuring the largest estates make a fair contribution.” Inheritance tax Protests Andy Burnham Save Britain's Family Farms Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments