An Andover farmer has joined a nationwide month-long campaign calling on the government to scrap proposed inheritance tax changes for farms.
Christopher Marchment, who farms at Foxcotte, near Andover, joined Farmers To Action (FTA) at Salisbury Livestock Market this week as part of the group’s “Trailer of Truth” tour. Three signed trailers – one each for England, Scotland and Wales – are gathering public messages ahead of a rally outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Sunday 28 September.
The tour has included a stop at Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm and further events around the country. FTA says the aim is to show the strength of feeling among family farms who argue they are “asset-rich but cash-poor” and that changes to reliefs could force sales or break up long-standing holdings.
A government spokesperson has said farming is central to the UK’s food security and that reforms are intended to be fair, with many estates remaining outside the scope of inheritance tax and options available to spread payments over time.
What happens next
FTA’s “Trailer of Truth” is due to appear outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on 28 September.
We will update this story with local farmer comments and any further response from government or industry bodies.
If you are a farmer in Andover or Test Valley and would like to share your perspective for a follow-up piece, email news@loveandover.com with your name, farm location and a brief summary of how the proposed changes could affect you.