Carla Lockhart MP is advising the Prime Minister and the Chancellor to ‘change their tune’ rather than doubling down on budget proposals to abolish historic agricultural property relief and business property relief which will have a catastrophic impact on family farms.

The Upper Bann MP joined party colleagues Diane Dodds MLA and Lord Dodds, in solidarity with farmers last weekend as they arrived in Banbridge – one of seven venues for the UFU’s Stop The Family Farm Tax tractor rallies, located across Northern Ireland as part of a nationwide display of unity against the government’s ‘tax grab’.

Ms Lockhart continues to fight on behalf of all farmers in Northern Ireland and across the entire British Isles. Speaking this week at a Westminster debate Carla Lockhart joined fellow MPs in condemning the Treasury’s plans, which from April 2026, will see farm businesses with assets worth more than £1 million, incurring a 20% inheritance tax.

The DUP agriculture, environment and rural affairs spokesperson said: “Farming is not just a job, it is a way of life. It is a generational commitment and in rural Northern Ireland, despite the recent inclement weather, rising production costs, and the escalating threat of avian bird flu, bluetongue, and the affliction of TB, our farmers continue to toil away. 

“As we stand here in the House of Commons, farmers are milking cows, feeding and rearing livestock and, ultimately, feeding the nation. Farmers take great pride in their work. They get few days off, have low incomes, and bear the immense responsibility of being the custodians of our countryside and the very lifeblood of our rural communities. Schools, businesses, and essential services depend on them.”
 
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy. The agri-food sector contributes significantly each year and employs hundreds of thousands across the country. Yet, despite their crucial contribution, farmers face ever-increasing pressures.
 
“Farming is deeply personal for me. I was raised on a farm and when I speak of farming as a way of life, I really do speak from the heart.”
 
The MP delivered a simple, but urgent message, to Sir Keir Starmer’s government: “Continue down this current path at your peril! The proposed tax changes are a heavy blow to those who are already struggling.
 
“The changes to APR and BPR flies in the face of the Prime Minister’s manifesto pledges, and I quote: “Losing a farm is not like losing any other business … it can’t come back.”
 

“Chancellor Rachel Reeves is coming under increasing pressure from farmers, farming unions, industry experts and other independent bodies, who are outlining the significant and disproportionate impact these changes will have on Northern Ireland’s agricultural sector.
 
“DAERA's analysis has shown that the vast majority of farms will be affected by these changes. In fact, under the current land valuations in Northern Ireland, approximately 40% to 45% of cattle and sheep farms, and an astounding 87% of dairy farms, will be caught by this tax. This is not a marginal impact — it will affect almost half of all farms in Northern Ireland, which together account for around 80% of the total agricultural land, 70% of the beef cattle, 90% of the dairy cows, and 80% of all cattle. The proposed changes will disrupt the very heart of our agricultural output.”
 
Carla Lockhart MP added: “The government continues to state that only 500 farmers will be impacted by these changes. However, official figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) acknowledge that these estimates are among the most uncertain in the entire budget package. According to independent analyses, the true number of affected farmers is likely five times greater than the Treasury estimates.
 
“This ‘tax grab’ is not just a matter of numbers, it is a matter of survival. The financial viability of our farming communities will be put at risk by these changes. The next generation of farmers, like the inspirational Lorraine Killen, who I met recently at the Ulster Farmers’ Union event, face uncertainty, fear, and heartbreak as they contemplate the future of an industry under immense pressure.”
 
Concluding, the MP said: “The government's insistence on proceeding with these changes, despite overwhelming opposition, is reckless. The proposed cuts to APR and BPR, combined with the flaws in the government’s own figures, will harm farmers, rural communities and our nation as a whole. The Labour government must reconsider, or it risks inflicting irreversible damage on our agricultural sector and food security.”

·                    Parliament is set to debate an online petition ‘Don’t Change Inheritance Tax Relief For Working Farms’ on Monday, 10^th February. Farmers from across the UK are invited to come together for a show of unity and a tractor protest at Whitehall.