NFU Scotland has announced that tractor rallies and events will take place across Scotland this weekend (1 and 2 February) to highlight how the UK Government’s proposed changes to inheritance tax threaten the viability of family farms across the whole of the country and the impact this would have on businesses up and down the supply chain. It is also an opportunity for farmers and crofters to say thank you to the public for their ongoing support and engage with MPs and local politicians.
Rallies had originally been planned to take place on Saturday 25 January however, due to the widespread damage caused by Storm Eowyn, the Union postponed these at late notice to allow the emergency services and many of its members to focus on the clear up operations that followed this violent storm.
Martin Kennedy, NFU Scotland President said, “Scotland’s farmers and crofters have once again demonstrated their key, but often unnoticed, role in rural communities by helping with the clear up operations following the devastating storm last Friday. Our decision to postpone events was welcomed and commended by emergency services.
“These events however were planned as part of a UK-wide day of action to send yet another loud and clear message to Westminster that proposed inheritance tax changes would have a devasting impact on prime producers, threaten our family farms and national food security. It was great to see to see so many, well supported events take place in England, Wales and Northern Ireland go ahead as planned and this weekend Scotland’s farmers, crofters and supporters will have that opportunity too.
“Events across Scotland are now being scheduled to take place on either Saturday 1 or Sunday 2 February. I encourage all NFU Scotland members along with others involved with the farming sector to take part and raise awareness of how
these taxations proposals would impact their businesses. Full details of where and when events will be happening will be posted on our website over the coming days once we have finalised and approved our plans with Police Scotland and other parties to ensure minimal disruption to the public.”
“NFU Scotland representatives will be in Westminster this week to meet with a range of MPs to raise the serious concerns of our members. The tractor rallies are just part of our wider, ongoing fight, alongside the other UK farming Unions, to get these taxation proposals reviewed by the UK Government as we campaign to #StopTheFamilyFarmTax.”
