Labour is facing fury for “destroying” British farms with its cruel tax raid while sending hundreds of millions of pounds to support foreign farmers. [emphasis, links added]
An investigation found the UK’s aid budget is handing huge sums of money to farmers in Africa, Asia, and South America.
More than £536 million is being spent overseas on ten programs including grants to promote low-carbon agriculture practices in Brazil, the world’s 11th richest country.
Another scheme, worth more than £16 million, aims to help new farmers in Rwanda produce tea for the first time.
Shadow cabinet minister Robert Jenrick criticized Labour for “spending hundreds of millions on foreign farmers while British livelihoods are destroyed by their cruel inheritance tax changes.”
“That will feel like a slap in the face for many British farmers. It’s not too late for Starmer to listen, admit he’s made a big mistake, and actually keep a promise he made at the election,” he added.
Conservative MP Greg Smith, who represents rural Mid Buckinghamshire, said the revelation is “a total outrage” and “yet another absurdity from this Labour Government”.
He added: “It is beyond belief they try to claim to be on the side of British farmers, whilst simultaneously introducing the cruel Family Farm Tax, bumping up the cost of fertilizer, and now directly funding foreign farmers.”
Just last month the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office launched a new fund to send £24 million of British taxpayers’ cash to Kenya and other countries to help build profitable businesses that contribute to their food security, drive economic growth, and create jobs and income in rural areas.
It stands in stark contrast to claims that Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ inheritance tax raid imperils Britain’s food security and will harm the rural economy.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed insisted that farmers remain the “backbone of Britain” and announced £5 billion into farming over the next two years, the largest amount ever directed towards sustainable food production.
Net Zero in Africa seems to matter more to this government than the traditional British landscape.
The research by the Taxpayer’s Alliance has sparked a backlash in light of Ms Reeves’ decision to levy inheritance tax on family farms in Britain, a move that the Treasury says will raise £520 million a year.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage demanded that the Government “put British farmers first” and called the foreign aid spending “a disgrace”.
He said: “It is a disgrace that as British family farms face ruin as a result of Labour’s tax plans, at the same time we are proposing to spend more than that – £536 million – on foreign farms”.
“Net Zero in Africa seems to matter more to this government than the traditional British landscape.”
The Taxpayers’ Alliance’s investigations campaign manager Joanna Marchong warned: “British farmers will be outraged to hear that foreign farmers are getting more support from the government than they are.
“Labour has announced a rise in inheritance tax that will see many farmers lose their livelihoods and farms that have been in their families for generations. All for the sake of a few pennies.
“Reeves should cut funding to farms abroad and focus on supporting British farmers who directly contribute to their communities and our county’s food security.”
Read more at Express
