Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Epping Forest, has joined the initiative to safeguard family farms across the UK from damaging tax changes. Dr Hudson has co-signed a letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, urging her to reconsider the changes announced in the recent Budget to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR).
Starting from April 2026, Inheritance Tax on combined business and agricultural assets worth more than £1 million will only receive a 50% relief, representing an effective relief rate of 20%. The letter, signed by Dr Hudson, challenges the government’s notion that these changes will only impact the richest estates and highlights that many modest family farms will easily exceed the £1 threshold. As a result of these changes, many family-owned farms will be forced to give up their businesses, farms and homes, jeopardising the sustainability of the rural economy.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw has described the changes as a “hammer blow” to farming families, coming at a time when the industry is already facing significant challenges.
Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Epping Forest said:
“This punitive tax measure needs to be urgently reconsidered.
"This risks significantly undermining our food security and will have devastating consequences on our rural communities . Equally, as I said in Parliament this will add to the huge pressures on farming families and their mental health. The Government must reverse this heartless policy.”
Dr Hudson is a longstanding champion of the British farming industry. For more information on his work, please visit:
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