Following recent boundary changes, the new constituency of Solihull West & Shirley includes approximately 30 percent agricultural land, much of it managed by small, family-run farms passed down through generations.
In the Government’s first Budget, the Chancellor announced plans to end full Agricultural Property Relief from April 2026. This decision will have a severe impact on farming families across the country, including those here in Solihull West & Shirley.
In November 2024, Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst joined farmers at a rally in Westminster opposing these changes. There, he met James, a local farmer from Braggs Farm, and later visited the farm to discuss the specific challenges faced by the agricultural sector with family members Andrew and Josh.
Analysis by the National Farmers’ Union suggests the Government’s estimate may be understated by a factor of three. Moreover, the official figures consider only Agricultural Property Relief and do not account for the fact that approximately 40%t of those claiming APR also rely on Business Property Relief. Both fall within the same £1 million threshold, making the proposed changes more restrictive in practice than the data implies.
Neil continues to stand firmly with local farmers, advocating for a fair and evidence-based approach that recognises the genuine pressures faced by family farms in Solihull West & Shirley and beyond.
The Government’s refusal to allow the transfer of the £1 million relief between spouses will unfairly punish widows, who may face an impossible bill at a time of great personal loss.
Other factors, including rises in National Insurance Contributions and the Employment Rights Bill, will further strain the rural economy and supply chains, creating an increasingly challenging situation. In many cases, the only option will be to sell land or parts of the business, which threatens the economic viability of these farms.
At an Opposition Day vote in December 2024, Neil voted against the Family Farm Tax, reaffirming his support for farmers.
In March 2025, Neil hosted a roundtable with local agricultural workers to discuss the impact of changes to Agricultural Property Relief and the Sustainable Farming Incentive.