Scrap Family Farm Tax completely, UUP's Carmichael urges Burnham

Mr Robert Carmichael, the East Londonderry Ulster Unionist Party Association Chairman, has said that if newly-elected Labour MP Andy Burnham succeeds Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, “he needs to give the UK farming community a cast iron guarantee that he will scrap the Family Farm Tax which has put the future of many farms in jeopardy”. 

   Mr Carmichael, speaking on behalf of the UUP association, added: “We should know shortly whether Mr Burnham will have a coronation or a contest to be the next Labour Party leader, and ultimately Prime Minister. 

   “However, the farming community cannot face a stressful summer waiting to see if Mr Burnham will eventually enter 10 Downing Street in September. 

   “Mr Burnham needs to set out his agenda to revitalise the farming community, not just in Northern Ireland, but right across the United Kingdom. His immediate priority is to make clear where he stands on the dreaded Family Farm Tax. 

   “Indeed, he needs to make it clear that it will become Government policy to scrap this terrible tax completely. The cost of living crisis which is gripping our nation has also had a severe impact on our farming families, too. 

   “Whilst there have been some modifications to the Family Farm Tax, these amendments are only tinkering with the situation. This so-called inheritance tax has become a financial millstone around the necks of the vast bulk of the farming community. 

   “Many farming families are already cash-strapped and it is essential that 10 Downing Street leads the way in getting rid of the inheritance tax burden once and for all. 

   “That’s why we in the UUP are challenging Mr Burnham to become abundantly clear what his policies will be not just on boosting the farming industry generally, but what specific steps he will take as soon as possible to lift the Family Farm Tax noose from off the necks of our agricultural sector,” said Mr Carmichael on behalf of the UUP association.