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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn Friday 25th October, Sir John Whittingdale met new NFU County Secretary, Hamish Debnam-Sharp, with NFU Branch Chair, Cllr Jane Fleming, at Great Whitmans Farm, Purleigh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sir John discussed a number of concerns of farmers, including the reports that Agricultural Property Relief could be abolished. On Wednesday, the Chancellor confirmed this, announcing in the Budget that relief will be reduced from 100% to 50% for combined agricultural and business assets worth over \u00a31 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NFU President, Tom Bradshaw, has said: \u201cThe shameless breaking of those promises on Agricultural Property Relief will snatch away much of the next generation\u2019s ability to carry on producing British food, plan for the future and shepherd the environment. It\u2019s clear the government does not understand that family farms are not only small farms, and that just because a farm is a valuable asset it doesn\u2019t mean those who work it are wealthy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sir John said: \u201cI entirely understand the anger felt by many farmers that the Labour Government has broken their pledge to retain Agricultural Property Relief. This threatens the survival of many family farms and will be hugely damaging to rural communities like ours and to the food security of the country\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n