Tim Farron meets with Cumbrian farmers in Westminster as Lib Dems demand ‘axe the family farm tax’

Today (19th November), local MP Tim Farron met with his constituents to discuss issues impacting rural communities, as thousands of farmers came to Westminster to air their concerns over the blow the Budget has dealt to family farms. 

Farmers from Cumbria raised their concerns about the impact of the family farm tax with Tim. The tax will be a cause of concern for the 440 farms that could be affected in Westmorland and Lonsdale.

The Government has also decided to accelerate the phase out of direct payments to farmers under the basic payment scheme - all recipients will see the base amount of their payments cut by 76% next year. 

Tim has called for the Government to urgently review this. By failing to do so, we are not giving farmers a fighting chance of sustainably and profitably feeding the nation and protecting our natural environment.  

The Liberal Democrats are also calling for an additional £1 billion a year in support for farmers.

Tim said: “Family farmers across Cumbria have already been failed by a Conservative party that didn’t care about them - they can’t now be let down by a Labour government that doesn’t understand them. 

“Liberal Democrats are standing up for rural communities, and calling for an axe to the family farm tax that would be disastrous for farmers across Westmorland and Lonsdale.

“British farmers are already battling with sky-high energy bills and botched overseas trade deals; and this hike will only make things much worse. I am urging the Government to change course.”