Forum Topic

Could we see a winter of discontent

So the farmers are protesting, hospitality and retail stating there will be job loses, so inflation rises, unemployment rises this isn’t going to end well for many hard working families Labour are supposed to be protecting.

Jayne Thorburn ● 4d144 Comments

Disgraceful, Labour won’t get away with it. Everyone had hoped Labour had learned the lesson about a healthy economy and they sold themselves on just that, we can trust them with the economy and a growth strategy. They lied to everyone and the sooner they go the better. They have let the whole population down. I don’t trust them with defence, clearly in terms of the economy they have already destroyed it in their first budget.

Jayne Thorburn ● 9h

Call a General Election Petition:https://petition.parliament.uk/signatures/143957391/verify?token=TwHfGCP2P5Kxkbekg72G

Michael Brown ● 9h

Chiswicks Beverley Turner; the GB News host  has posted Daniel Priestleys 7 - point- revelation of how Blackrock are going to grab British farms.X.com    @beverleyturnerscroll down to Daniel Priestley November 22nd

Anna Kirkpatrick ● 10h

Nothing wrong with Brexit, it was the daft deal you wanted.

Janice Evans ● 13h

Well I guess W4 voted for Labour… surely nobody is surprised that taxes have gone up… immigration up… health system issues up… school places under pressure… let’s hope for some Christmas cheer!

Emma Elizabeth ● 14h

Brexit - it did, and still does divide us. And a lot of farmers voted for it, cheers for that!

Vanessa Smith ● 14h

We are in for a tough time with these guys controlling world economy. Deer Keir and Rachel Thieves are amateurs who don’t stand a chance. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-11-20-how-south-african-men-are-changing-the-course-of-american-democracy/?dm_source=top_reads_block&dm_medium=top_reads_link&dm_campaign=south_africa

Steve Taylor ● 14h

“Still having tantrums over Brexit it's unlikely we we move forward in a positive way.“Not having tantrums, just stating the facts which should be obvious to anyone with the semblance of a brain, but you are right it’s a certainty that with Brexit we are never able to move forward in a positive way. Over time the effects of Brexit make it worse and worse for us.

Steve Taylor ● 14h

“ Namely elon musk because musk is the one who can switch on and off how the war operates on the ukranian side within mins ”Of course, and Musk, together with his four South African billionaire mates now control the USA

Steve Taylor ● 15h

I remember all of what you mention, and you are correct.

Nicholas Beard ● 16h

Farmers here don't really protest like in some EU countries. The government should make up the money they lost from the EU CAP payments though.

Nicholas Beard ● 16h

"And here we are with Putin in Ukraine and a crackpot entering the White House surrounded by a cabal of the deranged - what have we learned?" Im no fan of trump but just to call him silly names is indeed silly. He holds the trump cards because he has elon on his side who indeed holds many of the Aces to the war

Julian Pavey ● 16h

For those of us old enough to remember we've been here before. Yesterday was 61 years since the assassination of President Kennedy, and way back then we had the Cuban missile crisis and the USA in a stand-off with Russia in the form of Kruschev. It was all very tense and decidedly fragile, but Kennedy did not back off - and escalation and a possible war was avoided. And here we are with Putin in Ukraine and a crackpot entering the White House surrounded by a cabal of the deranged - what have we learned?

Vanessa Smith ● 16h

The next war would be more horrific than any other, I said it would happen some time ago before Putin invaded, and no one took notice then, they never do.

Janice Evans ● 17h

Putin don't look as if he feels like talking to me , when his army runs out maybe, he don't send his own people to fight apparently it's migrants and Koreans, but now his 'own' people will be hit and that could turn them against him.

Janice Evans ● 17h

"you couldn’t make it up!" Oh you could jayne. "war looming" Well i hope starmer knows what he is doing. I would hope  Zelenskyy has not asked for this route thinking that something happens in say poland as an example and it becomes a NATO issue. I would hope that is not what Zelenskyy is wanting because it may make them stronger but it would change russia and its way of winning a war. We dont want russia winning,we dont want to give what russia has taken but we certainly dont want an esculating war which involves NATO because that coule be the final straw where everyone becomes involed and you can call it WW3. Until then we have to take russian talk as more bluff. So on that front,kier really needs to take very strong advice from the right people. Lastly Trump holds all the cards in this war. Namely elon musk because musk is the one who can switch on and off how the war operates on the ukranian side within mins and how the russians react to it then come the talks

Julian Pavey ● 17h

We keep being told the adults are in charge, yet it's all about Brexit... Dah

Janice Evans ● 17h

Private sector shrinking, economists all predict job losses so increased benefit costs, borrowing up so trillions spent in government borrowing, inflation up, as Steve states interest rates will stay higher for longer. So no growing economy, war looming so well done Labour they have got things terribly wrong in such a short time. RR worked on customer services for Halifax not an economist 😂😂😂 you couldn’t make it up!

Jayne Thorburn ● 17h

I think if you look at the samples for farmers voting for brexit this was more broken down into what your farming that determined where your vote went. And the samples show that to say the majority voted for brexit would be in the same context that most people voted for brexit overall. which those who still hang onto the brexit idea would strongly disagree that a majority is not 1.9% which is roughly the samples taken for farmers .

Julian Pavey ● 17h

Still having tantrums over Brexit it's unlikely we we move forward in a positive way.

Janice Evans ● 18h

Yes, no doubt about it. Brexit caused major problems for farmers but the majority of them voted for it so they got what they voted for.  Have no sympathy for them.  Last government was hugely successful in reducing inflation to 2% within a year.  Current government reversing that pretty quickly as inflation rises  so the interest rates cuts predicted by the conservatives will no longer be possible under Labour. Good for savers, terrible for those trying to get first time mortgages but it was all predictable under a Labour government.  The winter of discontent will continue throughout next year into Spring, Summer and Autumn. And due to our Brain of Britain Foreign Secretary’s verbal abuse of Trump, don’t expect any favours from the USA

Steve Taylor ● 19h

Previous Gov, 11% inflation,increases National insurance to pay for social care,then proceed to cut it twice as an election strategy,mass farmers protest last March at Westminster about post Brexit trade deals,cheap food imports and unsupportive policies were putting UK food security at risk,no Farage, Clarkson or Tory MPs present for photo oppotunity, but now 'Winter of discontent'! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68655661.amp

Andrew McClure ● 1d

“ Be careful today #snow It snowed last night...8:00 am: I made a snowman.8:10 - A feminist passed by and asked me why I didn't make a snow woman.8:15 - So, I made a snow woman.8:17 - My feminist neighbour complained about the snow woman's voluptuous chest saying it objectified snow women everywhere.8:20 - The gay couple living nearby threw a hissy fit and moaned it could have been two snow men instead.8:22 - The transgender man..women...person asked why I didn't just make one snow person with detachable parts.8:25 - The vegans at the end of the lane complained about the carrot nose, as veggies are food and not to decorate snow figures with.8:28 - I was being called a racist because the snow couple is white.8:31 - The middle eastern gent across the road demanded the snow woman be covered up .8:40 - The Police arrived saying someone had been offended.8:42 - The feminist neighbour complained again that the broomstick of the snow woman needed to be removed because it depicted women in a domestic role.8:43 - The council equality officer arrived and threatened me with eviction.8:45 - TV news crew from BBC showed up. I was asked if I know the difference between snowmen and snow-women? I replied "Snowballs" and am now called a sexist.9:00 - I was on the News as a suspected terrorist, racist, homophobe sensibility offender, bent on stirring up trouble during difficult weather.9:10 - I was asked if I have any accomplices. My children were taken by social services.9:29 - Far left protesters offended by everything marched down the street demanding for me to be arrested.By noon it all meltedMoral:There is no moral to this story. It is what we have become, all because of snowflakes”

Steve Taylor ● 2d

So finally Raynor has done one good thing. Taken her a while though hasn’t it?

Steve Taylor ● 2d

Steve, I said give Angela Raynor a chance and you never had a good word for her 🤔

Janice Evans ● 2d

???

Steve Taylor ● 2d

See -Telegram  YesFarmersYesFood!

Anna Kirkpatrick ● 2d

Well, good on Reeves for clamping down on the greedy, wealthy farmers and good on Raynor for cancelling the Right to Buy scheme which the despicable Thatcher dreamed up to cause a housing crisis with over inflated prices like we have never seen before.

Steve Taylor ● 2d

Agree Janice the super wealthy will always have options most people being caught up with the Labour policies are not in that league they are just hard working aspirational people who already pay more than their fair share in taxes. It’s these people that Labour are targeting I don’t believe is a swollen public state where inefficiency rules. I do believe in public services that is efficient for the majority. Governments have never run efficient services it’s not their skill or talent.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2d

And I think Clarkson is just a decoy.

Janice Evans ● 2d

That was done for farmers so the land was safe, it wasn't a loophole as such.

Janice Evans ● 2d

'I don't want to live in a society where the very wealthy exploit loopholes to avoid paying their fair share of tax to pay for children's hospitals and smugly boast about it in their columns in the right wing press.'With you there - perhaps Jayne would be happier re-locating to the U.S. where she could live in contentment under Trump, Musk and the rest of the right-wing lunatics?

Vanessa Smith ● 2d

I don't want to live in a society where the very wealthy exploit loopholes to avoid paying their fair share of tax to pay for children's hospitals and smugly boast about it in their columns in the right wing press.

Paul Campbell ● 2d

I for one don’t want to live in a democracy where wealth, aspirations can’t thrive that’s what pays for public services, benefits etc. the way this lot are going people working in public services will out number private business that’s not sustainable for anyone.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2d

It's nothing to do with that is it, we know why these decisions have been made so far.

Janice Evans ● 2d

Farmers also pollute the land with pesticides and harmful chemicals.

Steve Taylor ● 2d

Oh come on Janet. You know very well that farmers regulate themselves and government veterinary officers can’t monitor every farm. There are thousands of reports of cruelty and bad practice - all motivated by greed and quest for more wealth.

Steve Taylor ● 2d

Discuss then as Robert asks, personally I can see the overall benefit offarmers, as a non meat eater that is, general benefits.

Janice Evans ● 2d

Everything is recycled, I'm vegetarian why would I visit such a place. Thereare regulations for animal welfare.

Janice Evans ● 2d

They are our suppliers.

Janice Evans ● 2d

Farmers as guardians of the countryside? Discuss.

Robert Fish ● 2d

They also dump animal excrement in our rivers and farm some animals in appalling and cruel conditions. Have you ever been to a barley beef farm.

Steve Taylor ● 2d

They also keep vermin down and some waterways running, they work for all of us.

Janice Evans ● 2d

“ farmers, for sure there are some wealthy farmers but there are thousands who are not.”And the thousands who aren’t wealthy (£3 million threshold) won’t have to worry about their little darlings paying inheritance tax when they die. The heirs to the more wealthy farm’s won’t dream of selling up because they are  wealthy already and they know when they are on a good wicket. Daddy has taught them to exploit and enjoy greed. That’s why they’re wealthy.

Steve Taylor ● 2d

They also clear the roads in winter.

Janice Evans ● 2d

We have beautiful countryside thanks to the farmers.

Janice Evans ● 2d

Higher inflation, higher interest rates will cases suffering to millions of people don’t think that should be a proud aim of any government. I beg to differ re farmers, for sure there are some wealthy farmers but there are thousands who are not. Let’s not get carried away attacking a tiny percentage of people and destroying the majority, not a clever move and I for one support the majority who work incredibly hard. Next time you drive to the countryside check out the hedgerows done by farmers.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2d

Farmers look after the countryside and look after us, would you rather see wind turbines.

Janice Evans ● 2d

Farmers are motivated by greed. If know a few and they have enjoyed years of wealth and prosperity and generous government subsidies. Labour are now doing a good job of getting inflation and interest rates up after the Tories reduced it continuously for over a year. Hopefully Reeves will make many more blunders to ensure higher interest rates.

Steve Taylor ● 2d

“Democracy isn’t safe with Labour” she wailed while clutching her pearls even tighter to her throat.

Paul Campbell ● 2d

Spare a thought for those that lose their jobs due to labours policies, spare a thought for pensioners who are going to suffer whilst you enjoy the warmth of your own home, spare a thought for hard working farmers who have farmed the land for many generations. Forgot cosy up to the greedy unions who throw are money away, spare a thought for kids who are being punished, the list goes on….democracy isn’t safe with Labour.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2d

To think they call liberals "snowflakes". I haven't seen so much whining since my children left nursery school.

Paul Campbell ● 2d

Actually it isn't right that a supermarket till worker in Halifax is having to fund a £300 subsidy for wealthy pensioners living in luxury in the home counties. This is pretty much universally accepted by MPs. At some point the Tory bribes for pensioner votes needed to be unwound.Taking money from Clarkson and Dyson to fund children's hospitals is very sound economic and social policy. And all a great deal better than Truss' unfunded tax cuts for wealthy people and 11% inflation.

Paul Campbell ● 2d

As one of those pensioners who has had their winter fuel payment stopped, I still support the government. Not because we are wealthy, or have wonderful private pensions - like the farmers bleating that they are 'asset rich, cash poor' - well - shock, horror - so are a lot of us. However, we have been around long enough to understand that you have to be able to pay your way, and after 14 years of disaster the country has to wake up and realise that we ALL have to help. If that means a couple of years of things being harder to get things back on an even keel - so be it - as they say - no pain - no gain.

Vanessa Smith ● 2d

Redistribution of wealth done in a sensible way I don't think anyone would disagree on, as for Keir I'm happy for him to stay as he did keep his promise on Ukraine which I'm very pleased about so far.

Janice Evans ● 2d

Stealing from pensioners is hardly distributing wealth, destroying our farmers and countryside is hardly eco friendly policy, borrowing at it highest level in October outside of covid so interest payments are through the roof hardly a good use of taxpayers money. This is just bad economics nothing clever from Labour same old policies waste our money that’s not going to benefit hard working families so not exactly socialists policies just poor judgement.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2d

Oh they're taking from the rich alright.

Paul Campbell ● 2d

'This is like a therapy group for sore Tory losers.'Isn't it just? Also throw in a few conspiracy theories for good measure, what a load of old B/S. Clearly none of these people have ever heard the phrase - 'A week is along time in politics'. They were happy to inflict 14 turbulent and disastrous years on us but are whingeing like buggery after four months of change, now they know how the rest of us felt.

Vanessa Smith ● 2d

Think they got it the wrong way around, Robin Hood took from the rich.

Janice Evans ● 2d

Meanwhile I’ll just continue to enjoy the anguish of die-hard Tories who are finding out that a Labour government redistributes wealth.

Paul Campbell ● 2d

Brilliant,plenty of days to do so Meanwhile ...............

Julian Pavey ● 3d

Yep it’s over with 1,700 days to go of die-hard Tories realising a Labour government really will actually tax the rich to invest in public services. You should know by now Julian that I just  love commenting on crass stupidity.

Paul Campbell ● 3d

Yep, we are going to lap it up, day by day.Feel free to join the club,no membership required,just a big smile and a chuckle behind the keyboard when the lefties pop in to have a say and a secret cry knowing its over.Why else would you have the need to comment.Oh boy,5 mins and another day has passed.Nighty night

Julian Pavey ● 3d

Better get used to it! Or just keep whining every day for another 1,700 days 👍

Paul Campbell ● 3d

Remove the winter fuel payments from pensioners, increase NI and lower the threshold, include pensions for IHT,  destroy our farming community, destroy the private rental market. Job loses, higher prices and increased inflation quite a record in little over 100 days, forgot reduce defence spending at a time Europe is unstable from Putin clever stuff…..

Jayne Thorburn ● 3d

This is like a therapy group for sore Tory losers. Just four more years and eight months to keep consoling each other with your fantasies.

Paul Campbell ● 3d

Apparently Keir has a secret if true only a matter of time before the press break the story. People voted Labour in part they wanted a change but also believed their campaign spin they have lied to everyone

Jayne Thorburn ● 3d

I doubt that 2026 will see Starmer as Labour leader. Lots of chickens to come home to roost.

N V Brooks ● 3d

You’re waiting with bated breath to know if I know farmers? I think you need to find a hobby. And if you had been educated to a decent tertiary level you would know that it is impossible to have done so without knowing plenty of farmers while being able to understand and argue the substance of a matter.

Paul Campbell ● 3d

"they will be gone next election" They are already gone jane,the clock is just taking a while to run down. How many days are we in and the cons are favs to win the most seats already at next election and Kemi Badenoch is fav to be next prime minister. Even starmer is in the betting as pick your year he goes so not even odds on to be PM in 2029+. Its over

Julian Pavey ● 3d

“ However, the fact that they have ten years to pay (interest free) should help in many cases. ”Any heirs who can’t pay the inheritance tax in 10 years have no business being in business so they should go and do something else. But there won’t be any in that category once they learn to live with the fact that such greed is unacceptable.

Steve Taylor ● 3d

Labour isn’t very clever or imaginative, there should be no IHT on working farms that are handed down to the next generation. If however the family decide to sell the farm down the line then it should attract IHT. This way farmers who do an incredible job not just working the farms but also caring for our countryside, the hedgerows etc. it is Labour at its worst. Plus pushing peoples pension into their estates is disgraceful so we are encouraged to save into a pension to look after ourselves  when we age only the LABOUR to steal our money on death. So pensions are tax when we draw any income and then they want 40% of our pension on death. People just won’t bother to save into pensions. About are enlarging the state while killing private industry who pay all the tax to fund public services, crazy. The sooner we get rid of them the better, they will be gone next election.

Jayne Thorburn ● 3d

No, it's not necessarily greed. Some farmers must be concerned that, if their heirs can't pay the inheritance tax bill, they will be obliged to sell the family farm. However, the fact that they have ten years to pay (interest free) should help in many cases. It's good that those who, like Clarkson, have bought farms specifically as a tax dodge will be hit. Such people will generally be much better off than your average small farmer. But the government needs to check that the changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief don't hit farmers of modest means. Should the combined allowance be pitched a little higher than £1 million?

Robert Fish ● 3d

Those farms aren’t crucial either. We have plenty of farmers across Europe who are more than happy to supply us. And of course a large percentage of our fruit comes from Latin America, South Africa etc etc. If the UK farmers kids worth over £3 million are too greedy to pay inheritance tax, let them go do something else. They already get huge subsidies.

Steve Taylor ● 3d

We're still waiting with baited breath for an answer. I wonder why? Mind you he might know Farmer Giles.

Brian Coyle ● 3d

But most of our estates are not crucial to feeding the nation  of will be used to employ other folks.

Keith Iddon ● 3d

It’s pure greed that farmers are whinging that their kids will have to pay a piddly  20% inheritance tax on estates worth over £3 million. Pure unadulterated greed when the rest of us have to accept that our kids have to pay a MASSIVE 40% on our estates over £500k.  The farmers just don’t get it. Greed has clouded their brains.

Steve Taylor ● 3d

Well said Karen.Townies don't really get it sometimes,but are more than happy to see supermarkets squeeze farmers so that they get cheap food on their plates.I hope your family can still make a go of it despite this double broadside from government.

Keith Iddon ● 3d

Sorry, why do you have to sell the family farm ?

Mark Frost ● 3d

Coming from someone who lives in town. That just shows your lack of understanding of farmers.  The majority whilst asset rich on paper pay themselves very little. Instead they have to reinvest in the business to keep it going.  We are likely to have to sell off our family farm now after it being in the family for over 150yrs.  In the short term though we will possibly also have to lay someone off to reduce outgoings to cover costs so we can break even  …..yet all those that don’t live in the rural communities do is whinge about how much  buying British milk/food costs, demands the right to walk across the land for their weekend dog walks, would rather claim benefit that work a hard/long day in the fields …….oh and call us greedy.     

Karen Lang ● 3d

“but stressed the figures did not take into account plans to increase the numbers on pension credit.”Of course they didn’t because they have no plan. They don’t want them to claim pension credit. Why would they? It defeats their austerity drive. Perhaps they are wanting more pensioners to die of cold.

Steve Taylor ● 3d

Maybe she’s doing a crash course in elocution so she doesn’t sound so stupid

Steve Taylor ● 3d

Well RR has not been seen for 6 days now. Maybe she is doing a new CV before tackling any crisis

Julian Pavey ● 3d

David,how on earth is it necessarily 'right wing'to be anti BBC.For a start,what other organisation has harboured sex pests and paedophiles in the numbers it has over the years? Clarkson might be floundering a little but I have found that an increasing number of journalists and broadcasters are giving their opinion on news matters,and not just from the beeb.

Keith Iddon ● 3d

I repeat that you don't appear to be able to argue with the substance and are only comfortable when personalising and trivialising the matter. Which you have subsequently underlined by calling Clarkson and Dyson real farmers and Starmer and Reeves Marxist-Leninists.If you want a proper debate then you'll need to be a bit more measured and reasonable in your assessment of the situation and its protagonists. As will the farmers.

Paul Campbell ● 3d

I repeat Paul - Do you actually know many farmers?

Sam Hearn ● 3d

In 2026,  but stressed the figures did not take into account plans to increase the numbers on pension credit.So they're admitting that there might be issues in 18 months time that they will need to address. 

Nora Watkins ● 3d

“Government estimates released on Tuesday indicated that the squeeze on winter fuel payments will force 100,000 pensioners into poverty in 2026.”And the government announce this with proud defiance and nonchalance. Incredible! 

Steve Taylor ● 3d

"land is a better investment than any bank can offer. The government doesn't get any of my money when I die." Clarkson, 2010.Oh yes they do. And so do the children's hospitals.

Paul Campbell ● 3d

I grew up in the countryside Sam, surrounded by genuine hard working farmers.  The new inheritance tax is set well above the level of the average farmer.  Tax dodging is a national pastime in the UK.  It's probably one of the reasons why we have such a black hole in the public finances.I do also find the irony in a conversation like this happening in leafy Chiswick,  where thoughts of Soho Farmhouse and Jilly Coopers leafy Rutshire aren't far away.

Nora Watkins ● 3d

Nora - what is your proof for saying this? How many individuals have invested in farm land as a tax shelter? Just sounds like good old fashioned envy to me.Dyson and Clarkson what ever their original motives for investing are now genuine farmers. Have a look at  https://dysonfarming.com/ if you want to see what the future of UK farming could look like - always assuming knee jerk marxist-leninists like Starmer and Reeves have not brought the industry to its knees.

Sam Hearn ● 3d

Forgot to insert admitted.

David Burke ● 3d

Watching Clarkson last night on the news and then on Newsnight he made a bit of a dick of himself trying to play to the crowd and turn  them against his interviewer Victoria Derbyshere with the old right wing anti BBC technique. It didn't work ,Derbyshire is too professional and persistent a journalist. In the end he bought his land as a "shoot" and to avoid inheritance tax.

David Burke ● 3d

Well said Michael.  Unfortunately the inheritance tax loophole has increased the price of land dramatically and the likes of James Dyson and Jeremy Clarkson are taking advantage of it. I'm sure there are genuine concerns from farmers,  but you need to be a serious land owner for the new threshold to affect you.   

Nora Watkins ● 3d

'Jeremy Clarkson, whatever his initial motives might have been, has raised awareness around farming and highlights specific issues. I would never have watched a farming programme before Clarkson's Farm.'Whereas many of us wouldn't bother watching anything that had Jeremy Clarkson appearing in it. The man is an arrogant boor.

Vanessa Smith ● 3d

Actually i have never watched it, I did see a few episodes Vinnie in the Country.  Don't watch much at all though.

Janice Evans ● 3d

Jeremy Clarkson, whatever his initial motives might have been, has raised awareness around farming and highlights specific issues. I would never have watched a farming programme before Clarkson's Farm.

Chris Blackwell ● 3d

Redefining the word "little". A promising career in embroidery beckons.

N V Brooks ● 3d

His wife runs the farm shop I believe.

Janice Evans ● 3d

It now appears that Rachel Reeves has been a little economical (excuse the pun) with the facts on her CV before entering politics

Paul Fisher ● 3d

Inflation up ,

John Southey ● 3d

No the "farmer" was Jeremy Clarkson, astonishingly unaware that he is the problem.

Paul Campbell ● 3d

His lack of self-awareness in joining yesterday's march and taking the limelight is pretty astonishing.

Paul Campbell ● 3d

Clarkson doesn't farm, he pays people to do that for him, and condescends to them as extras on his show. He is a rich entertainer agricultural landowner, in common with much of the Chipping Norton set, who run our media. He and his ilk have priced farming land out of the reach of the tenant farmers they employ. He is a farmer in much that same way as Marie Antionette was a shepherdess.

Michael Laird ● 3d

And some farms are leased what happens if owner dies and lease has not finished.

Janice Evans ● 3d

In order to continue running the farm ?

Janice Evans ● 3d

Depends how important you think food is I suppose.

Janice Evans ● 3d

Sam, you appear to be unable to argue with the substance and so resort to trying to personalise an issue as usual. Much like the "farmer" who was confronted with the reality of his confession that he was in it to avoid inheritance tax on the BBC News last night.

Paul Campbell ● 3d

Oh, and it’s total nonsense to hear the farmers kids bleating on about being forced to stop farming if they have to pay inheritance tax over the £3million allowance. What will they do? Go work in the City or become care workers? Yeah right. And who will buy their farms? It’s all violins and greed from this lot and their threats are laughable. They could never carry it through even if they wanted to.

Steve Taylor ● 3d

Know many farmers Paul? Clearly not

Sam Hearn ● 3d

No the direct beneficiaries are the low paid workers who have been exploited by the major companies complaining. If you’re worried about inflation then gnash your teeth about Brexit and the election of Trump.

Paul Campbell ● 4d

Well,if the cost of living goes up beyond 2.5% as a result,pensioners will benefit and the revenue raised given to them in essence.It smacks of a back of a fag packet policy.

Keith Iddon ● 4d

All farmers can avoid accountants’ fees and inheritance tax by handing their businesses over to the next generation seven years before they die instead of hanging onto them into their 80s. Let’s see if Clarkson and Dyson can spot this loophole. And let’s not let the retailers off the hook here. Their bleating about low margins and increased costs of NI and minimum wage are the lament of the rentier class faced with a very minor reckoning.

Paul Campbell ● 4d

That’s fine. If accountants can work out ways for the greedy farmers to legally buck the system - so be it.  At least it isn’t just leaving the greedy kids of rich farmers to sit on their arses and wait for mummy and daddy’s money to be handed to them tax free while the rest of us hard working taxpayers have to plan carefully because our kids will have to pay a whopping 40% on our estates over £500K. I had to laugh listening to some farmers playing violins and claiming they farm because they love to feed the citizens of the UK like some philanthropic Gods. No mate, you farm to make money - as much as you can!!!

Steve Taylor ● 4d

How much extra revenue will this raise after of course farmers' accountants have figured out how to legally reduce their liability I wonder.

Keith Iddon ● 4d

If husband and wife own farm jointly they can each leave £1million of farm value plus the normal £500k = Total £3 million to their kids free of inheritance tax and then their kids only pay 20% Can’t see why they are complaining when the rest of us have to accept that our kids will have to pay 40% on estates over £500k They’re just greedy. Rachel Reeves is doing the right thing on this one.

Steve Taylor ● 4d

An 80 acre smallholding in Wiltshire, my ancestral home county, is worth c.£1.3 million. This is a small farm by any measure and probably generates income well shy of £50,000.  Many around the ancestral hometown of Atworth have passed through five generations or more. Are these the vital small businesses that Reeves wants to tax into oblivion?

N V Brooks ● 4d

Well the head of the NFU said of brexit that it was a myth. Most working farmers did not vote for brexit and why would they. Its a complete red herring he said on Nick Ferrari

Julian Pavey ● 4d

The last person the farmers need representing them and standing at the front of a march is somebody who embodies the reason for the withdrawal of a tax loophole that he has been happily exploiting.

Paul Campbell ● 4d

Well, the old saying about adversity making for strange bedfellows can be true on some occasions, as I have found myself agreeing with both Paul and Steve reference their comments about the current moaning from farmers over IHT and Brexit. Who'd have thought it?

Vanessa Smith ● 4d

Sam, you appear to be new to this forum and indeed this thread and the OP itself if you believe that posts are restricted to positive contributions. There is a point to the post. Indeed it is quite pointed. People who have to pay more tax are going to complain about it. It is not a surprise to anybody and least of all the Labour leadership.

Paul Campbell ● 4d

1M investment =10k a year return on working farm so you have to invest roughly 4M to get a 40k return.Reguardless of what starmer says about contingency plans,if the farmers really went to war they could easily bring this GVMT down within weeks.

Julian Pavey ● 4d

Worse than the "Winter of Discontent" in the late 1970s was the "Three Day Week" in the earlier 1970s.The Electricity Power workers went on strike with others ...causing Power cuts to factories and homes.Candles were handy but became scarce whilst my Oil Lamp Mailing Househad a bonnaza.Those were really tough times!

Jim Lawes ● 4d

It's farms over £1m that will be affected.The amount of money raised will hardly be worth the increased prices that are bound to follow on.

Keith Iddon ● 4d

Yes if a family farm is worth £3million the next generation will have to pay 20% inheritance tax. It’s a good move my Rachel Reeves.

Steve Taylor ● 4d

Nothing to do with Brexit they might have to increase price 20% now.

Janice Evans ● 4d

“ Steve, if farmers have to increase prices it will hit everyone.”Janice, yes we know farmers have had to increase prices since Brexit but everyone knew they would have to which is why Brexit was such a bad idea. However, the current issue is with the greedy farmers complaining about the inheritance tax for farms over £3 million

Steve Taylor ● 4d

Clarkson is known for making jokes, you don't take up farming for that reason it's bloody hard work, he's been working it for a number of years and has a farm shop, otherwise he would not be running it would he.

Janice Evans ● 4d

"Paul if you have nothing positive to contribute to a thread then please resist the urge to post."That would likely stop Humpty posting at all.

Richard Greenhough ● 4d

On his own admittance, he bought the farm to avoid inheritance tax.

David Burke ● 4d

Steve, if farmers have to increase prices it will hit everyone.

Janice Evans ● 4d

Prefer employers to fork out for employee health insurance and/or employees who don't have need to cost it into their wages then? No money left in the bag for essential services  I am not sure that is any cheaper that putting up NI -

Penny Bromley ● 4d

In all of this I'm a bit flummoxed how anyone can be jealous of Jeremy Clarkson taking up farming, very odd.

Janice Evans ● 4d

Spare a thought for poor Jeremy Clarkson and James Dyson.

David Burke ● 4d

Ti's not the season, Paul, for flippant jollities.

Mark Frost ● 4d

Rachel Thieves is screwing up big time but let’s hope she doesn’t back down to the greedy farmers. Their issue is just pure and utter greed.

Steve Taylor ● 4d

This is the CEO letter sent to her- https://brc.org.uk/media/2aljs1nz/ceo-letter-to-the-chancellor-budget-2024.pdf

Russell Pearson ● 4d

Paul if you have nothing positive to contribute to a thread then please resist the urge to post.

Sam Hearn ● 4d

In other news turkeys exploiting cheap labour vote against Christmas.

Paul Campbell ● 4d

The BOE is also supporting the retailers and hospitality stating it is inevitable there will be job loses, rising inflation and higher unemployment does Labour never learn the most basics of economic principles, clearly not!

Jayne Thorburn ● 4d

Super proud of the Farmers perhaps retailers and hospitality should be protesting as well. You are right increasing business NI plus lowering the threshold plus increasing minimum wage all in one hit seriously bad news for so many businesses just goes to show how little Labour truly understands economics. Plus the lies they told during the election campaign growth strategy really!!!!!  NO increase in NI etc. same old Labour

Jayne Thorburn ● 4d

I am no economist,but if I  wanted to create growth amongst businesses get more people into work I can't see how increasing the costs of running a business and of employing staff would go hand on hand with that aim.Not only does it create an uncertain business environment but it scuppers any confidence in making future investments in the UK imo.

Keith Iddon ● 4d

Hope you are are right 🤞🤞🤞🤞

Jayne Thorburn ● 4d

"Made glorious Summer by this son of York" might not be so bad though.

Chris Blackwell ● 4d