Craig Hoy MSP has slammed Labour’s “family farm tax” announced in the recent Budget during visit to an East Lothian farm where he met with Iain Thompson.
Craig says the changes announced by Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves to agricultural property relief and business property relief will deliver a “devastating” blow to family farms in East Lothian.
The Conservatives have launched a petition urging Labour to U-turn, and Mr Hoy has called on residents across Scotland to sign it to send Labour the strongest possible message.
He says Labour have “shamefully” broken their promise to farmers after now DEFRA secretary Steve Reed said last year that his party had no plans to change agricultural property relief.
Craig added Labour have shown that they have no interest in standing up for farmers or rural Scotland and warns the tax threatens future food production.
He warns the measures mean that family farms will be hit hard and will, in some cases, not be passed on to future generations.
Craig said: “Labour’s family farm tax will be devastating for family farms in East Lothian and the wider South Scotland region.
“Iain, like many other farmers, says that this cruel policy risks many Scottish farms and poses a threat to rural communities in East Lothian and beyond.
“Labour said last year that they were not planning any changes to agricultural property relief. Now they have shamefully broken their promise made to farmers.
“That is why the Conservatives have launched a petition urging Labour to U-turn on this policy. I encourage everyone in East Lothian to support our call and send Labour the strongest possible message that we will not let them kill off farming in this country.”
He added: “Labour is clearly not interested in supporting farmers in and those who simply want to pass down their family farm to the next generation. I will continue to stand up for farmers and our rural communities here in East Lothian and across South Scotland to force Labour to reverse this awful decision, which could spell the end for family farms.”
