Keir Starmer Slammed For Not Addressing Protesting Farmers' Fury Over Inheritance Tax
'Inheritance tax decision is fair and proportionate'
Sky's @TrevorPTweets asks Transport Secretary @LouHaigh why the PM didn't speak to farmers protesting about the budget measures yesterday in Wales.#TrevorPhillipshttps://t.co/fhIHlpTGAF
đș Sky 501, Virgin 602 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/bf53bXTjsKâ Sky News (@SkyNews) November 17, 2024
Keir Starmer has been slammed after failing to address protesting farmersâ concerns over Labourâs changes to inheritance tax this weekend.
Hundreds of demonstrating farmers gathered outside the Welsh Labour conference as the prime minister was speaking on Saturday, holding signs which read âenough is enoughâ and âno farmers no foodâ.
It comes after the government decided to reduce the amount of tax relief farmers get on inherited land in its Budget, meaning itâs harder for farms worth more than ÂŁ1m to be passed down through the generations.
Protesters also told reporters they would be delivering the PM a letter which starts, âdonât bite the hand that feeds you,â amid concerns farming strikes could trigger food shortages.
On Sky News on Sunday, presenter Trevor Phillips asked transport secretary Louise Haigh why the PM had not acknowledged the crowds outside.
He said: âWhy did he not have anything in his speech which held out hope to the farming community that the things they objected to â particularly inheritance tax â might be alleviated?â
Haigh said Starmer had set out a âdefence of the Budgetâ in his speech, adding: âNone of us came into politics in order to leverage tax on the farming community, but we were left with a very difficult fiscal inheritance.â
But Phillips pushed back: âYour colleagues have told me that many times, but what I really want to know is, why did he have nothing to say to farmers yesterday?
âThey were gathered, they were demonstrating.
âFrom what their leaders say, they are hurting. The prime minister had nothing to say to them.â
âColleagues have met with representatives of the farming community, we do understand these concerns,â Haigh replied.
She continued: âBut these decisions have been made, and we think theyâve been made in a fair and proportionate way in order to fund public services.â
Phillips then changed tack, and asked: âIs it wise for the farming minister to respond to the anger of farmers by telling them to âcalm downâ, which is apparently what heâs done?â
The presenter was referencing how Daniel Zeichnerâs told the BBC on Sunday: âI urge people to look calmly at the detail and I think they will find that the vast majority will be fine.â
Haigh told Sky News: âI donât think we would use language like that ââ
But Phillips cut in: âThatâs what he said, he said âlook at this calmlyâ. Perhaps you might want to correct the tone.â
Haigh told the show that Labour recognise the contribution from farmers through its new deal with farmers which would make sure 50% of our food comes from British farmers.
Starmer did not mention the farmers in his speech on Saturday, but did say he would âdefend our decisions in the Budget all-day longâ.
He said: âI will defend facing up to the harsh light of fiscal reality, defend tough decisions that were necessary to stabilise our economy, and I will defend protecting the payslips of working people, fixing the foundations of our economy, and investing in the future of Britain and the future of Wales, finally turning the page on austerity â once and for all.â
He added that it was âlong overdue for Westminster politicians to level with people, honestly, about the trade-offs that Britain faces.â
Two more farming protests are planned in central London on Tuesday.