'Tinkering while Rome burns': farming groups slam John Healey over Budget
John Healey extended the fuel duty freeze and the cut to red diesel duties, but refused to scrap the so-called “family farm tax”.
John Healey has been accused of “tinkering while Rome is burning” by farming groups, for failing to scrap Rachel Reeves’ inheritance tax levies and providing more support on fuel.
The Chancellor extended the fuel duty freeze and the cut to red diesel duties, while handing out £100 to households to cut energy bills.
However, National Farmers’ Union President Tom Bradshaw said: “Today was an opportunity for government to act on the warm words it made over the summer. It has failed to act and has left farmers feeling abandoned.
“The OBR has reflected that the food price inflation outlook is significantly higher than previous forecasts.
“Yet the government has failed to link domestic food production to food-price inflation, has missed the opportunity to deliver on its commitment that ‘food security is national security’ and failed to give farm businesses the ‘breathing space’ that the Chancellor said that this Budget was for.
“While the extension to the red diesel relief is welcome, fuel prices today are 65 per cent higher than a year ago, so will offer minimal relief to the cashflow crisis facing farming businesses. This feels like tinkering while Rome is burning.”
Country Land and Business Association President Gavin Lane said: “The Chancellor says he wants growth in every postcode, but once again, the challenges rural areas face have been overlooked.
"There are too many policies that stifle growth and entrepreneurship in the countryside, and there is still an ignorance of the unique difficulty of running a rural business.”
"We welcome the extension to the red diesel tax cut and the increase in the business rates threshold. However, at a time when 9 out of 10 CLA members are cancelling investment in their business, it is hard to see what in this Budget will change their mind."
The Countryside Alliance hit out at Mr Healey failing to reverse Ms Reeves’ inheritance tax changes on farmers.
The organisation said: “Before becoming Prime Minister, Andy Burnham pledged to revisit the hated Family Farm Tax.
"He has failed to do so. This tax continues to tarnish the government’s rural record. It is preventing farmers from making important decisions about their livelihoods, hampering the government’s own mission of creating good growth in every postcode.”