51AVÊÓƵ

Giving farmers a voice in Government has not always been the easiest of tasks when it comes to discussions on Inheritance Tax reforms, but a lifelong farming champion believes he has helped the sector to take a positive step forward on the issue.

Graham Miles, agricultural chaplain for Suffolk, said he was delighted to facilitate a meeting between farmers and Defra officials on September 10, which was also Back British Farming day, to discuss how tax reforms have impacted farmers' health.

LISTEN NOW:

Having been part of the farming sector for the majority of his life, Mr Miles said he will do whatever he can to support rural communities and give them a voice on how Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Autumn Budget changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) is having an impact on farm businesses.

Mental health and Inheritance Tax

Inheritance Tax, due to come into force in April 2026, has been a daily part of the agricultural chaplain's conversations with farmers since Ms Reeves' announcement, and he has witnessed first hand how it has impacted farmers' health and wellbeing.

"I have seen first hand the pain and hurt this policy has caused to our farming communities," he added.

"My phone has never stopped ringing since November. Farmers have been left in despair and are anxious about the future.

"They do not know how they are going to keep on farming because of this.

"It has resulted in some very difficult conversations, especially around themes of mental health and wellbeing in farming.

"Lives have already been lost because they could not see another way forward [on Inheritance Tax] which is really upsetting. 

"The question I get asked a lot is: How many more lives are we going to lose before April?"  

READ NOW: New Defra Secretary says she wants to work in partnership with farmers

It is why he wrote to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer earlier this year, urging him to meet with farmers and discuss how policies had taken a toll on their mental health.

Mr Miles said the Prime Minister's office wrote back to him to say that the matter would be picked up by Defra, and that a meeting would be arranged to discuss the matter.

The meeting was finally arranged and took place last week to mark Back British Farming day.

Suffolk farmers Richard Wrinch, Russell Abbott and David Barker had accompanied the agricultural chaplain to the meeting at Defra headquarters in London, with family members also in attendance including Russell's daughter Holly and Richard's granddaughter Eliza.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw had also met with the agricultural chaplain and the Suffolk farmers in a separate meeting on the day to discuss wellbeing and Inheritance Tax reforms.

"Groups like the CLA and NFU are doing some fantastic work for farmers," he added.

"I often hear that there is no action being taken by the unions.

"But it is often behind the scenes which farmers do not see.

"They are working incredibly hard to speak up for farmers."

Mr Miles said the meeting with Defra was an opportunity for Government to hear first hand how tax reforms had taken a toll on the health of farmers. 

Family farming for future generations

"I shed a tear when I heard farmers, young and old, describing the toll of Inheritance on their health and what it would mean if they can no longer farm and sell up their businesses," he added

"They are fighting because they want to keep the farm for future generations. 

"In some cases, farms have been in the same family for hundreds of years.

"Farmers have told me that they feel like they are failing their ancestors before them if they cannot keep the farm in their families.

"Inheritance Tax has caused a lot of pain to farmers."

The agricultural chaplain said he hopes the meeting will be a first step in establishing a new relationship between farmers and Government on Inheritance Tax changes. 

Register now for our FREE webinar: Diversifying farm income - How to sell direct to customers

Mr Miles said: "One of the main things farmers tell me is that they are not being listened to by the Government on Inheritance Tax.

"There has not been that level of communication that farmers would have liked in the past 12 months.  

"It is why this meeting was so important. It gave farmers a voice and I hope it will give farmers a lot of encouragement moving forward.

"I really think it was an eye opening experience to those who attended from Defra. They really did listen.

"It is a step forward in the right direction and I hope the start of a new relationship between farmers and Government."

Despite being offered no assurances of a change of direction in policy, Mr Miles said Defra is keen to arrange for a minister to visit farmers in his constituency of Suffolk later this year.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT: Join Farmers Guardian's Save Britain's Family Farms campaign

"I am going to keep in regular contact with Defra and ensure they continue to hear how policies affect farmers," he added.

"As always, I will do whatever I can to support our farmers.

"The agricultural community has thanked me for what I have been doing on their behalf to raise the issue in Government and how it has impacted their health.

"I will do whatever I can to support our farmers."

READ NOW: Farmers warn they could be forced to leave UK due to Inheritance Tax reforms