Responding to comments from prime minister Keir Starmer that he is “aware” some farmers are considering taking their own lives to avoid a family farm tax, South Wales Central Conservative MS Andrew RT Davies has slammed the “callous” policy.
Despite the admission, the Government still plans to impose the tax, with Starmer insisting “governments have to bring about sensible reform.”
The tax will see the next generation of farmers forced to sell up, as families will have no other option in order to pay the bill.
Mr Davies warned the policy would be the death of farming in Wales.
He said land would no longer be used to produce to feed the nation. Instead, it would be bought up by wealthy speculators who will treat is as a financial asset.
Mr Davies said:
“This family farm tax is a hammer blow to agriculture in Wales.
“The damaging policy is being imposed by choice, to pay for things like Plaid Cymru separatists’ demands to scrap the two child benefit cap.
“The real winners will be wealthy speculators, who’ll buy up land as financial assets when farmers are forced to sell up.”
ENDS
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