West Worcestershire MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has repeated her support for the thousands of farmers who returned to Westminster this week to protest about inheritance tax changes which threaten to kill off family farms.

And the MP met with a delegation of young farmers who returned to the capital to register their opposition to the tax changes introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves at the Budget last October.

The changes mean many family farms will need to be split and sold off to pay huge tax bills when the owner dies.

The tax was the subject of an emergency debate after over 140,000 people signed a petition calling for the cancellation of the measure.

Dame Harriett said:

“The changes to the treatment of farmers’ inheritance tax treatment has worried many farmers but also over 500 of my constituents who signed the petition.

“It has clearly mobilised people from across West Worcestershire and I have today shown my support for local farmers by meeting with them at their latest protest.

“There is outrage within the faming community that this change will usher in the end of many smaller family farms and is yet another example of the terrible punishment the Labour Government is exacting on the rural economy.

“Farmers do a vital job putting food on our tables and food security should be a matter of national importance. This will continue to be debated but most of all I again call on the Chancellor to reverse this tax change and help to protect our farmers and their future.”

Photo: Dame Harriett Baldwin MP with young farmer, Lucy, from Rutland.