Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer
    Twitter LinkedIn
    • FREE Email Newsletters
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Contact Us
    Twitter LinkedIn
    Podcast
    Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer
    • News
      • Arable & Agronomy
      • Dealership News
      • Environmental Land Management Scheme/Policy
      • Event News
      • Health & Safety
      • Machinery
      • People
      • World News
    • Farm Machinery
      • Amenity & Maintenance
      • Cultivations
      • Drilling
      • Grassland Equipment
      • Harvesting
      • Muck & Slurry
      • Sprayers
      • Telehandlers
      • Tractors
      • Tractor of the Year
      • Tyres & Tracks
      • Whatever happened to?
    • Precision Farming
    • Markets & Policy
    • Profiles
      • National Arable and Grassland Awards
      • Company Profiles
      • Reader Profiles
    • Livestock
      • Beef
      • Dairy
      • Sheep
    • Magazines
      1. June 2025 issue
      2. May 2025 issue
      3. April 2025 issue
      4. March 2025 issue
      5. 2025 Tyre Developments supplement
      6. February 2025 issue
      7. National Arable and Grassland Awards supplement
      8. January 2025 issue
      9. December 2024 issue
      10. November 2024 issue
      11. October 2024 issue
      12. September 2024 issue
      13. August 2024 Issue
      14. 2024 Drills and Seeds supplement
      15. July 2024 Issue
      16. Cereals Supplement
      17. June 2024 Issue
      18. May 2024 Issue
      19. April 2024 Issue
      20. Tyres and Tracks Supplement
      21. March 2024 Issue
      22. National Arable & Grassland Award – Meet the Finalists
      23. February 2024 Issue
      24. January 2024 Issue
      25. December 2023
      26. Agritechnica Preview Supplement
      27. November 2023
      28. October 2023
      Featured

      June 2025 issue available now

      By Matthew TiltJune 2, 2025
      Recent

      June 2025 issue available now

      June 2, 2025

      May 2025 issue available now

      May 1, 2025

      April 2025 issue available now

      April 1, 2025
    • Events
    • Podcast
    Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer
    Markets & Policy

    NFU calls for transparency as Defra denies freedom of information requests

    Matthew TiltBy Matthew TiltMay 21, 20252 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
    NFU Vice President Tom Bradshaw
    NFU president Tom Bradshaw

    The NFU, along with other business groups, have sent the Chancellor an open letter calling for transparency over changes to Business Property Relief (BPR) and Agricultural Property Relief (APR).

    A freedom of information (FOI) request has been lodged by the NFU, one of many reportedly sent into Defra, after the government dismissed the alternative ‘clawback’ option proposed by the industry.

    This would see businesses taxed the full 40% rate of inheritance tax on assets sold by a successor within seven years of the owner’s death. According to the NFU, this would offer a more finessed policy, raising the funds required by the government while avoiding damage to family farms.

    The Treasury claimed that this would raise much less than current proposals, however, it has refused to release the modelling for that conclusion.

    The open letter urges the Treasury to publish its analysis of the reforms and the clawback alternative to allow for public scrutiny.

    NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “The family farm tax is cruel, unfit to become legislation and is triggering a crisis of confidence across the farming sector.

    “As we outlined in our Spending Review proposals, one of the most significant actions the Chancellor could take to restore trust and unlock investment and growth is to urgently review the clawback proposal.

    “The Efra Committee recently underlined the importance of rebuilding trust in the industry. As highlighted in the joint industry letter, publishing the government’s analysis of alternative Inheritance Tax reform options and engaging in constructive dialogue around a more targeted approach would be a strong first step in the right direction.”

    Signatories to the letter include:

    • Tom Bradshaw, president, National Farmers Union
    • Victoria Vyvyan, president, Country Land and Business Association
    • Neil Davy, chief executive, Family Business UK
    • George Dunn, chief executive, Tenant Farmers Association
    • Debbie Walker, director general, British Holiday & Home Parks Association
    • Ben Cowell, chief executive, Historic Houses
    • Fran Barnes, chief executive, Horticultural Trades Association
    • Andrew Judd, chief executive, National Association of Funeral Directors
    • Sue Robinson, chief executive, National Franchised Dealers Association
    • Emma Mosey, chair, Farm Retail Association
    • Rob Driscoll, director of Legal and Business, Electrical Contractors’ Association
    • Chris Cassley, policy director, Construction Plant-hire Association
    Tweet
    Share
    Share
    Pin
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
    Previous ArticleMecmar drier upgrade helps future-proof Bedfordshire farming business
    Next Article Paul-Tech adds real-time nitrogen availability
    Matthew Tilt
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn

    Machinery editor for Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer. Matt has worked as an agricultural machinery journalist for five years, following time spent in his family’s Worcestershire contracting business. When he’s not driving or writing about the latest farm equipment, he can be found in his local cinema, or with his headphones in, reading a good book.

    Read Similar Stories

    Fears over fertiliser prices

    June 23, 2025

    Government urged to recognise food security in national security strategy

    June 23, 2025

    Delinked payments to be cut significantly over the next two years

    June 16, 2025
    Most Read Stories

    Hertfordshire farmer faces £40,000 bill over fly-tipping incident

    June 23, 2025

    Fears over fertiliser prices

    June 23, 2025

    Spread-a-Bale launches new high performance spreader

    June 23, 2025
    Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer

    The UK's leading agricultural machinery journal

    Twitter LinkedIn
    © 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

    Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms & Conditions

    • Farmers Weekly
    • AA Farmer
    • Poultry News
    • Pig World

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.