Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), lamented a ‘wretched year’ as he renewed his demand for Labour to rethink their inheritance tax raid

In his New Year message, Mr Bradshaw said he had never before experienced ‘the anger, despair and sense of betrayal’ felt by farmers over Labour’s Budget

He vowed to ‘keep up the pressure’ on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to find a solution to the furious tax row

‘It’s impossible not to reflect on the stark picture of the challenges faced by UK farming over the past 12 months,’ he said in his first New Year’s message as NFU president.

‘Volatile input costs, commodity prices at record levels in some farming sectors and on the floor in others, a reduction in direct payments and one of the wettest periods in decades that resulted in a disastrous harvest, have left their mark and many farming businesses worse off.

‘To cap a wretched year, we saw a Labour Government, which, after 14 years in opposition, promised to reset its relations with British farmers and deliver a much-needed lift to farmer confidence.

‘Instead, it delivered an inflationary Budget and all but removed the tax reliefs for agriculture property and business property.

‘In all my years in the industry I’ve never experienced the anger, despair and sense of betrayal following the Chancellor’s announcement to changes to inheritance tax which has long protected farming’s ability to pass on farm business to the next generation, thereby protecting food producing businesses and the nation’s food security.’

He added: ‘Ultimately, this needs to be sorted out by the Prime Minister and Chancellor Rachel Reeves with a solution sought that will mitigate the extreme human impacts of this indefensible family farm tax policy on the current holders of those businesses, for whom, up until October 30, the best tax advice was to hold their farm until death.

‘Rest assured, we will keep fighting to find a solution.’

Mr Bradshaw urged Labour to deliver ‘at pace’ the policies in its general election manifesto that had ‘provided optimism’ for farmers.

He called for measures to ensure the new environmental payments regime for landowners works for food production alongside nature, and supports businesses in the uplands in particular, and also urged robust standards for food imports.

He also called for legislation to boost promised public procurement of British food, and a planning system that supports farmers.

‘Our ambitions are clear, and the manifesto commitment from this Government that national security is food security gave us hope to deliver the thriving industry that farmers and growers want to be a part of,’ Mr Bradshaw continued.

‘Clearly, the shadow hanging over the industry from the disastrous proposed reforms to inheritance tax makes delivering these ambitions impossible.

‘To move forwards, we need the Government to urgently recognise the need to pause and consult so we can focus on delivering the far more exciting agenda above.

‘As we head into the new year, we will build on the momentum of the public’s unwavering support and strive to ensure we are doing everything we can to help deliver a thriving and profitable farming industry – one that is good for shoppers, good for the environment and good for a secure supply of British food.’

A Government spokesperson said: ‘Our commitment to farmers remains steadfast and our Plan for Change will protect food security and grow the rural economy.

‘We have committed £5billion to the farming budget over two years, the largest ever for sustainable food production and nature’s recovery, and we are developing a 25-year farming roadmap to ensure greater profitability for rural businesses in the years to come.

‘Our reform to agricultural and business property relief will impact around 500 estates a year.

‘For these estates, inheritance tax will be at half the rate paid by others, with 10 years to pay the liability back interest free.

‘This is a fair and balanced approach which will help fix the public services we all rely on.’