A Warwickshire farmer has claimed that most MPs privately back farmers against controversial inheritance tax changes, despite frontbench resistance to changing course.
Charles Goadby told GB News that public support for British farming has been “overwhelming” ahead of planned protests in January.
“They’re backing us, it’s just the MPs, but in fact most of the MPs are backing us too. It’s just the whips and the frontbench preventing them,” he said.
“There’s no democracy, they’re just being told what they can and can’t do,” Goadby added.
Goadby says most MPs are backing the farmers’ cause
GB NEWS
The National Farmers’ Union has announced a national day of action on January 25, with demonstrations including tractor rallies planned across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw said farmers would not give up fighting against the “destructive” policy.
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Farmers took to London in protest
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“There is too much at risk: our families, our future, our heritage and the undermining of the very sector that produces a safe, secure supply of British food,” he said.
Roadside banners will also be put up along main roads to catch MPs’ attention over Christmas.
From 6 April 2026, the full 100 per cent relief from inheritance tax will be restricted to the first £1m of combined agricultural and business property.
Landowners above this threshold would pay inheritance tax at a rate of 20 per cent, rather than the standard 40 per cent.
Charles Goadby spoke on GB News
GB NEWS
The government has said the change would only affect about 2,000 estates each year and its commitment to farmers “remains steadfast”.
However, estimates of affected farms vary widely, from as many as 70,000 overall to as few as 500 per year.
Hundreds of farmers recently drove their tractors through Aberdeen to protest against the tax changes.
Duncan Wight, a third-generation farmer from Drumoak, described the changes as “soul destroying” and warned they could “ruin lives”.
“We are very angry because we have worked hard all our lives and never really been shown appreciation,” he said.
The 61-year-old added that the protest helped highlight the issue and that the general public supported them.
Speaking on GB News, farming campaigner Kelly Seaton warned that protests would intensify after Christmas, specifically targeting MPs who support the tax reforms.
However, she emphasised that farmers would aim to minimise disruption to the public.
“I believe we will see more targeted action taken towards more local MPs who have been seen to support the inheritance tax implications,” she said.
“I imagine we will see a lot more action but hopefully no disruption for the general public,” Seaton added.
