‘The policy stands!’ Environment Secretary Steve Reed sends defiant to farmers as hundreds protest against IHT reforms

The Environment Secretary sent a bold message to farmers as tractors rolled down Oxford High Street in protest of the annual Farming Conference.

Steve Reed told GB News: “The policy stands,” as farmers gathered in unity to rally against Rachel Reeves’ controversial inheritance tax reforms.

Tractors descended on the centre of Oxford as Reed addressed the annual farming conference in the city’s University’s Grade 2 listed Examination School.

The protest – which featured one tractor emblazoned with the message: “Buckle up. We will not stop” – symbolises a growing movement among farmers who say the proposed changes could jeopardise the future of family-run farms.

Reed told delegates: “I understand the anger” around the changes, and said: “I am sorry if some of the action we had to take shocked you”.

He insisted it was not a decision they had wanted to take, but had been necessary because of the £22 billion “black hole” the Government say they have discovered in the public finances.

In an attempt to mend fences with the sector, the Environment Secretary added: “Too many farmers don’t make enough money for the food they produce” and urged them to “work together in a genuine partnership” to “give farming back the bright future it deserves”.

It comes after Reeves’ plan, aimed at raising tax revenue by tightening inheritance tax reliefs, sparked a backlash from rural communities who argue the policy disproportionately impacts agricultural estates.

Today, Reed stressed that the changes to IHT is just one issue which is angering farmers.

He said challenges also include supermarkets squeezing farmer’s profits, soaring energy costs, climate change, Brexit and planning, but admitted that “many feel the camel’s back is breaking”.

As Reed outlined a “new deal” for UK agriculture, the sound of blaring tractor horns could be heard from outside.

Measures include planning reforms to make it easier for farmers to build on their land, diversify their business and help British farmers to a greater share of the £5 billion spent each year on catering in schools, prisons, hospitals and other parts of the public sector.

When asked whether the Government might at least provide some IHT assistance to the very oldest farmers, Reed told GB News: “The policy stands.”

It comes after National Farmers Union President Tom Bradshaw previously choked up when talking to MPs about concerns some may take their own lives before the IHT changes come in next year, to save their families large sums of money.

Responding to a question about whether Labour understand the rural community as it has been predominantly a party of urban areas, Reed hit back that Labour now has 120 MPs with rural or semi-rural constituencies – the largest chunk of rural seats of any political party.

He added that those MPs made their views “very clear”.

Farmers told GB New that they believe many farms will go under because of the IHT changes.

However, Reed said he “didn’t accept” the statement and that 12 thousand farms went bust under the last government.

“They were going bust already because farming isn’t profitable”, he said.

The Liberal Democrats said Reed’s “regret” was “simply not good enough” and called on Labour to U-turn.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw welcomed Reed’s apology, but he cautioned: “The farming industry has nothing left to give, it’s been bled dry,”

While protests are set to continue, Bradshaw warned: “This situation could spiral”.