Labour’s ‘war on Downton Abbey’: Rachel Reeves accused of mounting an ‘assault on Britain’s heritage’ by hiking taxes on the nation’s historic country homes_Nhy
Rachel Reeves has been accused of waging ‘war on Downton Abbey’ by hiking taxes on the nation’s historic country homes.
The Chancellor is facing claims that her Budget of inheritance tax hikes and other rises could even ‘spell the end’ for some estates.
A survey for the Historic Houses association – which includes Highclere Castle where the ITV drama Downton Abbey was filmed – reveals many could be forced to cut staff.
Tory culture spokesman Saqib Bhatti accused Ms Reeves and Labour of ‘an assault on Britain’s beloved heritage and history’ as these homes were the beating heart of the countryside.
Mr Bhatti said: ‘Their war on Downton Abbey is economically illiterate and threatens our history.
‘They came for our farmers, they came for our pensioners and now they are setting out to destroy our heritage by demolishing our stately homes, loved by so many.’
Lady Carnarvon, who runs Highclere Castle in Hampshire with her husband, also hit out at the hike in employers’ National Insurance contributions.
‘I feel we are almost being taxed out of business,’ she said.
Rachel Reeves has been accused of waging ‘war on Downton Abbey ’ by hiking taxes on the nation’s historic country homes
Lord and Lady Carnarvon outside of Highclere Estate which was used as the main filming location for Downton Abbey. A survey for the Historic Houses association – which includes the castle – reveals many could be forced to cut staff
Tory culture spokesman Saqib Bhatti (pictured) said: ‘Their war on Downton Abbey is economically illiterate and threatens our history’
‘Every hospitality business is partly about employing people. These Budget measures will not help.’
Farmers have reacted in fury to the decision by Ms Reeves (pictured) to remove the inheritance tax exemption for agricultural property and business assets despite ministers claiming it will likely affect only 500 estates a year.
The survey for Historic Houses – which represents more than 1,400 independently run stately homes – warned they would also be hard hit by the changes which would affect their agricultural holdings, and weddings and tours business.
Some 41 per cent feared they would have to make redundancies or pause plans to hire new staff.
While 54 per cent said they would be unable to develop and diversify their business. One respondent declared that ‘people in the rural economy generally deserve better’ and doubted if Labour would have introduced such tax hikes ‘if they affected urban inhabitants in the same way’. Another said the changes in the long term ‘likely spells the end of an historic estate’.
Historic Houses director-general Ben Cowell said: ‘This survey reveals just how difficult the recent Budget was for independently owned historic houses. Inheritance tax changes could completely undermine the viability of the businesses that operate in these heritage settings.’
But a Treasury spokesman said: ‘With our public services crumbling, a £22 billion fiscal black hole and 47 per cent of these reliefs going to the wealthiest 7 per cent of estates, we had to make difficult choices to fix the foundations of the country and restore economic stability needed for businesses to thrive.’
