The recent Budget by the Labour Government has been nothing short of a betrayal to British farmers and to the rural communities that depend on them, like ours in Buckinghamshire, writes the MP for Mid Buckinghamshire Greg Smith.

Amid the chaos from Labour, one issue has stood out for me as a critical concern—Labour’s Family Farm Tax - an attack on Agricultural Property Relief (APR), a key tax relief that has protected family farms for decades. The Government's choice to significantly change this relief will spell disaster for British farmers, making it impossible for farmers to pass their businesses down to the next generation, leaving many facing financial ruin.

I’ve seen first-hand how vital these family farms are to our local economy and rural character. During a recent visit to Upper Peppershill Farm in Long Crendon, alongside Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch and Shadow Secretary of State for Defra, Victoria Atkins, we spoke with local farmers who are rightly worried about the long-term effects of these policy changes. The new tax burden will only add to the financial strain farmers are already facing, and it’s clear that this will lead to the collapse of many family-run farms, devastating rural communities.

The Labour Government’s actions are not only harmful to farmers, but they also undermine our food security. Our food production system is the backbone of the nation’s resilience, and policies that make farming financially unsustainable weaken that foundation. I am committed to fighting these changes. The Conservative Party stands firm in its promise to reverse these reckless measures, ensuring that family farms can continue to thrive and feed the nation.

In Westminster, I proudly stood with the farmers during their rally to raise awareness of this grave issue. Together, we will continue to fight for the survival of our family farms and the security of our agricultural future."