Overview
- The Government has lifted agricultural and business property relief thresholds from £1 million to £2.5 million, allowing couples to pass up to £5 million, and says around 85% of estates claiming relief will pay no inheritance tax.
- At the Oxford Farming Conference, Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said there would be no further concessions on the policy after the December climbdown.
- Farmers held a noisy but peaceful tractor protest outside the venue to demand more relief and to spotlight wider pressures including low returns, rising costs and competition from lower-standard imports.
- Reynolds announced Sustainable Farming Incentive changes including no sudden scheme closures, application windows in June and September, simpler options with potential caps, regular funding updates and a new £30 million collaboration fund.
- Grassroots organisers such as East Anglia Farmers Unite say they will continue campaigning, while Dorset MPs welcomed the shift but pressed for broader support and fairer trade terms for UK producers.