Dorset farmers are heading to Westminster to demonstrate against new inheritance tax rules which they fear threaten their farms.
One farmer described these new changes to inheritance tax as a "robbery" and is among those demanding a government U-turn.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced during her Budget speech that from April 2026, the first £1 million of combined business and agricultural assets will continue to attract no inheritance tax.
But for assets over £1 million, inheritance tax will apply with 50% relief, at an effective rate of 20%.
This sparked a huge backlash in the farming community and now National Farmers' Union (NFU) members will be join a national mass lobby in Westminster on Tuesday, November 19, to call for a rethink.
Amongst them will be Tim Gelfs, of Westleaze Farm in Beaminster, who described this new change as a "robbery" on agricultural land.
He said: "I believe Keir Starmer came to an NFU conference a year ago and said he wanted to reconnect with agriculture. He’s gone against that with this new budget. It will force a lot of farmers to sell land to pay tax.
“We’re in the same boat as a lot of people as we’re first-generation farmers. We’ve spent our whole life building our business up. When we pass on, unless something changes, some or all of the land will have to be sold to pay inheritance tax. It seems really unfair.”
He added: "At the protest we will be putting pressure on the government, showing that it is a bad decision and that they need to do a U-turn."
The Melplash Agricultural Society, a charity which support local farmers, said this inheritance tax is an "added burden" to small farms who have already been struggling over the years.
READ MORE: Budget: Income tax "burden" on farmers in West Dorset
West Dorset MP, Edward Morello has said he will be standing with West Dorset farmers as they descend on parliament to "make their anger known."
He said: "Labour’s first Budget is bad for West Dorset’s farmers.
"The average farm in the South West is 82 acres, and 49% of our farms are worth at least £1.5 million. That might sound like a lot of money but small farms are already struggling to survive.
"If they are forced to sell land to pay death taxes then they will become unviable as businesses. Liberal Democrat estimates suggest as many as 300 farms in West Dorset may be affected.
"When the sector is already struggling to attract the next generation of farmers the prospect of not being able to pass on the family farm will only put more young farmers off dedicating their lives to this vital part of the rural economy.
"The impact may be even more significant for tenant farmers, with the possibility that landowners will prefer to sell of rented land before the land they actually farm themselves.
"On Tuesday, November 19, West Dorset farmers, along with farmers across the UK, will descend on Parliament to make their anger known. I will be standing with them."
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