36 farms in Harrogate and Knaresborough could be hit by “family farm tax” as Tom Gordon calls on government to reverse the hike

36 farms in Harrogate and Knaresborough could be hit by the “family farm tax” following the government’s decision to cut inheritance tax relief for farms. Local MP, Tom Gordon, has called on the government to scrap the tax hike on farms.

The government has previously said that 27% of farms will be affected by the changes which cut the levels of inheritance tax relief for farmers in a move that Tom Gordon has said could ring the “death knell” for family farms in Harrogate and Knaresborough. 

If 27% of farms in Harrogate and Knaresborough were to be hit by these changes, 36 would be affected by the government’s “family farm tax”. Local MP Tom Gordon has called on the government to scrap the “family farm tax” and take up Liberal Democrat proposals to put forward an additional £1 billion a year in support for farmers.

Commenting, Tom Gordon said:

“The government must scrap this disastrous family farm tax immediately or risk ringing the death knell for family farms in Harrogate and Knaresborough. 

“For years, our local farmers have been forced to endure botched trade deals and cuts to their incomes due to the Conservative Party’s shameful neglect of rural communities.

“The new government’s tax hike is yet another blow for farmers, who will find it harder to pass their farms on to the next generation. This tax will make it even harder for young people to follow in the footsteps of their parents and get into farming. 

“The Chancellor should reverse course immediately, scrap the family farm tax and adopt the Liberal Democrat proposals to give farmers an additional £1 billion a year in support.”

ENDS

The number of farms affected by constituency can be found here.

According to the government 73% of farms will not be affected meaning 27% will be. Extrapolated across all farms by constituency, an estimate of the number of farms in each constituency affected has been reached.