A TOTAL of 432 farms in Tiverton and Minehead could be hit by what’s been termed as a ‘family farm tax’ with the Government being urged to reverse its decision on tax relief.

Calls have been made by both Rachel Gilmour, MP for the two towns, and James Wright, the South West Chairman of the Conservative Rural Forum, on Number 10 to reconsider proposals to cut the amount of relief on Inheritance Tax.

The government has previously said that 27 per cent of farms will be affected by the changes in a move that Mrs Gilmour fears could ring the “death knell” for family farms in her constituency.

She estimates that if that proportion of farms are expected to be affected, a total of 432 in the Tiverton and Minehead area would lose out. She has now called on the Government to scrap the move and take up Liberal Democrat proposals to put forward an additional £1 billion a year in support for farmers.

Mrs Gilmour said: “The government must scrap this disastrous family farm tax immediately or risk ringing the death knell for family farms in Tiverton and Minehead.

“For years, our local farmers have been forced to endure botched trade deals and cuts to their incomes due to the Conservative Party’s shameful neglect of rural communities.

“The new government’s tax hike will come as yet another hammer blow for farmers.

“The Chancellor should urgently reverse course, scrap the family farm tax and take up the Liberal Democrat proposals to give farmers an additional £1 billion a year in support.”

Mr Wright has also voiced grave concerns over the Labour Party’s move to scrap Inheritance Tax protection for family farms, with a new Inheritance Tax that he says imposes a tax burden of at least £240,000 on the average English farm.

He says this decision threatens the livelihoods of more than 70,000 farming families across the country, therefore damaging food security, rural communities, and nature recovery.

Worst of all, he says the new tax will penalise the largest, most productive farms, punishing those who’ve invested to feed the nation.

Labour’s tax change announced last week in the budget will mean that farming families will face an Inheritance Tax bill on land and assets passed down to the next generation.

Mr Wright, who also farms on Exmoor, said: "Labour's new tax threatens the heart of rural communities, where family farms fuel local jobs, schools, and community life.

“This new burden risks farm closures, undermining both livelihoods and vital environmental stewardship — jeopardising the very landscapes we depend on. This is something that Kier Starmer’s Labour simply just don’t understand"

Following the recent budget announcement, the BBC reports the government has said it would be maintaining the £2.4bn farming budget for England in 2025/26.

Food Security Minister Daniel Zeichner said: “Our commitment to farmers and the vital role they play to feed our nation remains steadfast."

He urges people to oppose these changes by signing the petition athttp://www.stopthefarmtax.com.