Key facts
- Andy Burnham is actively engaging with farmers to rebuild trust.
- Farmers protested new taxes, including inheritance tax, in the 2024 budget.
- A potential U-turn on inheritance tax for farmers is being considered.
- Increased funding for nature-friendly farming is also a possibility.
- Thousands of farmers were left without funds from the £253m annual budget.
- A poll indicated 0% of farmers would vote Labour again.
Andy Burnham, a prominent figure within the Labour party, is making a concerted effort to engage with the farming community and repair a fractured relationship, particularly following significant backlash over new taxes introduced in the 2024 budget. Farmers, including activist Olly Harrison and Jeremy Clarkson, protested changes to inheritance tax, arguing they would lead to farm closures. The dialogue between the government and agricultural workers had been described as nonexistent.
Burnham's team is reportedly exploring policy adjustments, such as a potential reduction in inheritance tax or increased funding for nature-friendly farming, as a way to appease farmers and secure their vote. This comes after a record 6,300 forestry, fishing, and farming businesses closed last year, with tax changes cited as a contributing factor alongside extreme weather and inflation.
New environment secretary Angela Eagle has been actively visiting farms to build rapport, with farmers like Martin Williams noting the positive impact of direct communication. Despite these efforts, a recent poll indicated that 0% of farmers would vote Labour again, highlighting the uphill battle Burnham faces in winning back rural support. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister David Cameron has publicly criticized the inheritance tax on farm assets as "stupid."