LBC callers divided over latest farmers' protests

Farmers have raised alarms that Labour’s contentious tractor tax could “decimate” the UK’s agricultural industry, with new protests taking place nationwide.

Farmers gathered at protests across the UK on Saturday to step up their campaign against the tax raid, which means farms valued at £1m or more would be liable for 20 per cent inheritance tax.

Matthew Wright callers take to the phone lines to share their views.

00:00 - Caller Andrew says he is ‘not sympathetic’ to the farmers

02:35 - Caller John, a farmer, says he has ‘no issue’ with the tax

06:23 - Caller Jonathan disagrees with Matthew’s assertion that Labour ‘are helping new farmers get into the business’

#matthewwright #farmers #farmersprotest #uknews #ukpolitics #labour #news #politics #farmer #debate #protest #inheritance #LBC

LBC is the home of live debate around news and current affairs in the UK.

[polmcsuibhne]

it is the same as bedroom tax ...not a word from them against it against landowners should be set up...

[MrTanukiD]

I almost tooted in solidarity as i passed a local protest in my clapped out 15 year old Mazda until i saw all of the 160k Range Rovers parked up between the tractors.

[colinthompson]

Agree with Andrew. I suspect if the protesting farmers knocked on doors around the UK, they would get similar opinions.

[melvinhodges]

How many people that are jumping on the poor old farmers bandwagon are boycotting Morrisons?

[Human_Herbivore]

If they were protesting inheritance tax in general, they might get more people inboard. But they are not, it's all about self.

[mrquasar]

He's not a farmer. If you provide food the nation you should absolutely be given aid and tax relief

[ianhaggart]

This isn't just about farms.... its inheritance tax.... for anyone who might have a business to pass on that they have worked hard for some can't stop working and shortly they are dipping even more into pension pots of every tax payer who is ready to retire.. 😔

[dek]

That man wasn’t a farmer, he hadn’t got a clue what he was talking about.

[tyronewilliams]

We dont have enough housing or land for housing while Rich landowners millionaires own 71% of the brittish landscape! Will your kids beable to own his/her own property one day?

[oldmcdonald]

Don't believe the 'farmer' is a farmer. What will be will be, country seems determined to destroy any chance of recovery - enjoy the fruits of destroying your farming industry

[kenbaughan]

I always believed it was about rich land owners dodging tax, i used to fish on club waters and many of these fishing venues was accessed through farm property, and i used to think even then thats where the money is expensive landrovers several expensive cars sitting around the farm houses and some were huge houses with outlying other buildings, tractors hay bailers all sorts of very expensive and in some cases new farming machinery, i felt the smaller farms struggled, and i am sure there are some they rise early and in many cases work into the night to preserve crops that could be damaged by frost rain etc.but as i said the farms i had seen passing by there homes to access fishing spots certainly did not seem poor to me, plus the fishing clubs had to pay these farmers to access the river or ponds.i feel the rich landowners have hijacked the demos for there own end and genuine hard working farmers who are struggling are caught up in a rich mans web and have no voice,

[ukscooby]

Well done caller #1. I'm cash poor, I've sold things to continue to live.
(I'm not complaining)

PLEASE stop calling them farmers, they're businesses/landowners.
Normal average "farmers" are NOT affected!

Why the heck can't asset rich do their bit? These businesses/landowners bought their land for an incredibly small % if the value now and haven't paid tax
... I'll tell you why, GREED. Rich people wanting to be richer.

I'm disabled, I've worked for 40+ years and my benefit is being reduced. I've sold things to live! Stop complaining.😊

[jdizzle]

"im poor so you should be too"... Dont worry, after this government we'll all be poor unless youre a doctor or train driver

[fahmad]

They are all Tories. They whinged under Tories but were reluctant to come out while the Tories ruined the farming in the UK

[Derek-dz]

Whats nicer, fields full of greenery and daffodils, or solar panels and batteries everwhere

[christinebakewell]

It’s this ideal is the reason that millionaires are leaving in droves - to my mind all inheritance tax is just legal robbery - you no what Morrisons are the only supermarket that try to promote British produce above foreign where possible.

[Flatcapfarmer]

Lbc, if you are going to interview a 'faux farmer
' try to get one who was almost second caller aka faux farmer offered no points other than to call the previous caller misinformed, then he lost his way, banded the word greedy about, kept in saying he was a farmer...if he was employed by someone to be on air, hope they kept the receipt 😅

[kevinpalmer]

At the end of the day the rich will own all of the land and we peasants will live in the gutter. Its not complicated. Farms should be farms and not turned into solar energy or rich peoples hobbies when people haven't got enough to eat

[rochcarothers-tsjx]

MormonChurch owns 14, 000+ acres farmland, as Queen& Rail-- do they all pay these taxes or exempt from INHERITANCE --church-- no, Rail-- no, Queen died so yes✓. Substitutes for others?

[Faust-NOW]

Matthew needs to stop talking and start listening. The last call - Jonathan - was quite clear that selling parts of a farm simultaneously lower asset prices *and* will make the remaining farm and the sold portion less profitable.

Why can’t LBC hire presenters that know a thing or two instead of this crass arrogance they display on a daily basis?