Farmers will mount a protest against planned changes to inheritance tax with tractors on Edinburgh city bypass tomorrow.
NFU Scotland has organised the event as part of a weekend of action involving all four of the UK’s farming unions.
It had been due to take place last Saturday, but was postponed to allow farmers to deal with the nationwide devastation caused by Storm Eowyn on Friday.
Edinburgh Live reports that participants will gather at Old Craighall where they will travel to the Gogar roundabout before continuing their journey on the A1. The event is due to kick off at 10am but it is understood they will only use the inside lane as to minimise disruption.
The protest is against proposed UK Government changes to agricultural property relief, with a 20 per cent inheritance tax on farm businesses worth more than £1 million.
The NFU argued that the lifting of the exemption threatened the viability of family farms across the country and said this will have a knock on effect on businesses up and down the UK supply chain. The union added the event will also act as an opportunity for farmers and crofters to show their gratitude to the public for their support while also taking the opportunity to engage with politicians.
The UK government plans to scrap an inheritance tax exemption for farms worth more the £1m and have dug their heels in despite opposition. They said 75 per cent of farms across the country will not be impacted by the changes. Labour also claimed the proposal will only impact the wealthiest of farmers.
NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy said: “Scotland’s farmers and crofters have once again demonstrated their key, but often unnoticed, role in rural communities by helping with the clear up operations following the devastating storm last Friday. Our decision to postpone events was welcomed and commended by emergency services.
“These events however were planned as part of a UK-wide day of action to send yet another loud and clear message to Westminster that proposed inheritance tax changes would have a devastating impact on prime producers, threaten our family farms and national food security. It was great to see to see so many, well supported events take place in England, Wales and Northern Ireland go ahead as planned and this weekend Scotland’s farmers, crofters and supporters will have that opportunity too.
“Events across Scotland are now being scheduled to take place on either Saturday 1 or Sunday 2 February. I encourage all NFU Scotland members along with others involved with the farming sector to take part and raise awareness of how these taxations proposals would impact their businesses.
“NFU Scotland representatives will be in Westminster this week to meet with a range of MPs to raise the serious concerns of our members. The tractor rallies are just part of our wider, ongoing fight, alongside the other UK farming Unions, to get these taxation proposals reviewed by the UK Government as we campaign to #StopTheFamilyFarmTax.”
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