The DUP’s Westminster Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs spokesperson said:”I am wholeheartedly supporting and will be attending the UFU’s campaign to Overturn The Family Farm Tax. The event is a fantastic opportunity for farmers, landowners and rural communities to stand together in a show of unity against the Government’s recent budget announcement.

“I will also be attending the NFU’s planned rally at Westminster on Tuesday, 19^th November.

“We can’t stand by and watch the Labour Government destroy our heritage and undermine the province’s largest industry, which not only creates employment, but produces food for over 10 million people throughout the United Kingdom.

“We need to send out a strong message – No Farmers, No Food!”

Earlier this week in Westminster, Ms Lockhart tabled an Early Day Motion opposing the Government’s recent inheritance tax changes to cap agricultural property relief at £1 million and introduce a twenty per cent tax rate on assets exceeding this threshold.

“Prior to the July election Sir Keir Starmer said he knew a thriving farming sector was vital for the environment, economy and the nation’s future. He also said, and I quote ‘My Labour Government will roll up its sleeves and deliver for Britain’s farmers’. Within 118 days at Downing Street, he has done yet another U-turn and delivered the biggest blow that farming has faced for generations.”

Ahead of the Budget farming unions, accountants, politicians and industry leaders were united in their condemnation of ‘leaked plans’ to dismantle agricultural property relief.

Carla Lockhart MP added:”There has been widespread anger since Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered the Budget, which has set a trajectory to further discourage younger people from farming. The Government’s decision to introduce a £1 million threshold on farm assets, is almost certainly going to burden the next generation with unmanageable debt. Many will be forced to sell land to meet their tax obligations, and as a result, this will have a huge impact on succession planning and the future of agriculture.

“Farmers are asset rich and cash poor. The local agricultural industry is already under severe pressure from increased costs of production, farm-gate price fluctuations, decimating livestock diseases, environmental challenges and post-Brexit bureaucracy.

“This latest move by HM Treasury will have far-reaching consequences. It will destroy the continuity of rural family businesses, compromise our economy and threaten food security across GB and Northern Ireland. This will have a significant impact on fair competition within the agri-food sector, affect production capacity and drive food prices up even further.”

Ms Lockhart continued: ”The historic agricultural exemption from inheritance tax must remain. I am calling on the Government to re-think these reforms in a bid to sustain and support the preservation of family-owned farms, and safeguard the agricultural industry.”

“Farmers are known to be resilient, but this heist on inheritance tax relief will force generations of family farms out of business. Rural Support is already reporting unprecedented demand for its confidential services as farmers succumb to the daily pressures of farming. If the Government presses ahead with its plans, the heart will be ripped out of our industry and the rural economy will be destabilised.”

The MP continued: “Farming unions have accused the Government of miscalculating the impact that inheritance tax changes will have on family farms. The Government stated that only 27% of farmers would be affected by the new agricultural property relief rules, but their figures are drastically wrong.

“There are around 24,000 family farm businesses in NI and they are the heartbeat of the rural community. Farmers are anxious for the future.”