Starmer reevaluates farm tax amid MP concerns

Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, is reportedly seeking a way to adjust a controversial new tax on farms proposed by Rachel Reeves. This tax has sparked worry among some Labour MPs, who feel the government is not listening to their concerns. Alastair Campbell, who was a press chief for former Prime Minister Tony Blair, shared that many MPs are feeling frustrated about the situation. He mentioned this during a podcast, indicating that the tax goes against promises made by Starmer to protect family farms in the past. Mo Metcalf-Fisher, from the Countryside Alliance, noted that growing opposition within the Labour Party makes it hard to find support for the farm tax. He said MPs from rural areas, where there are over 100 Labour seats, are facing pressure to represent their constituents' views against the tax before it becomes a bigger issue. The National Farmers Union (NFU) has also suggested that a "clawback" mechanism should be in place. This would ensure that the inheritance tax only applies to certain farm assets if they are sold within seven years after the owner's death, allowing farmers to maintain their business operations without immediate financial burden. Campbell highlighted that the government underestimated the potential impact, believing only 27% of farms would be affected, while the NFU claims it could be as high as 75%. Farmers are concerned that the changes could severely threaten their financial viability. Overall, there is a growing call for the government to reconsider the proposed tax approach. Campbell believes the government might be seeking an exit strategy that doesn’t look overly negative. He asserts that being willing to change course isn't a sign of weakness for a government.