Furious farmers slam Chancellor for refusing to meet over "cruel" tax hikes

Farmers protest in London

Furious farmers have accused Chancellor Rachel Reeves of refusing to meet with them to discuss what they describe as "cruel" inheritance tax hikes. Thousands protested in London this week over the increased taxes they say will devastate rural Britain.

Disagreement over impact

Both sides have been at odds over the number of farmers who will be affected by the changes, with farmers warning that the impact will be much greater than the estimates provided by the Treasury.

We will not give up

Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers' Union, expressed his frustration at the Chancellor's refusal to engage in discussions, stating, "Rest assured, the NFU will continue to push hard to stop the family farm tax; it's cruel, it's wrong, and it risks decimating our sector."

Threat to livelihoods

Victoria Vyvyan, president of the Country Land and Business Association, vowed that farmers will not give up the fight against the tax hikes, warning that the increased inheritance tax bills could jeopardize livelihoods in the agricultural sector.

Concerns over food security

Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, raised concerns about the impact of the policy on rural communities and food security, stating that it could threaten the country's food supply.

Criticism from Shadow Environment Secretary

Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins criticized the Labour government for what she described as a lack of understanding of basic maths and warned that their policies could lead to food shortages and higher prices.

Labour under fire

Atkins accused Labour of not caring about the countryside and risking the future of farming with their policies, stating, "Their policies risk the end of farming as we know it."

Treasury response

The Treasury was contacted for comment but has not yet provided a response on the matter.