Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, Member of Parliament for Solihull West & Shirley, today issued a renewed call to protect Britain’s farming community, warning of the dire consequences that recent Government policies could have on the nation’s food security.
During a visit to Braggs Farm in Solihull, Dr Shastri-Hurst met with local farmers, Andrew and his son, Josh, to discuss the continued challenges facing the agricultural sector in the wake of Labour’s Autumn Budget. The visit forms part of Dr Shastri-Hurst’s ongoing engagement with the rural community and his continued opposition to the Family Farm Tax.
Speaking following the visit, Dr Shastri-Hurst said:
“Farmers are not merely stewards of our countryside – they are the cornerstone of our nation's food security. I am grateful to both Andrew and Josh for sitting down with me over a cup of tea to discuss the very real challenges facing British agriculture.
The Labour Government’s decision to impose punitive inheritance tax measures on family farms is nothing short of an assault on generational resilience and the economic backbone of rural Britain."
The local MP continued:
“Food doesn’t appear on our supermarket shelves by magic – it is the result of early mornings, long hours, and a deep-rooted commitment to the land. Family farms like Braggs Farm are not just businesses; they are legacies. Labour’s plan is a reckless raid on those legacies and an existential threat to our ability to feed ourselves as a nation.”
Dr Shastri-Hurst also highlighted the disruption caused by the abrupt pausing of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme earlier this year – a scheme which many local farmers had relied upon for financial stability and environmentally responsible practices.
“Whilst it is encouraging that some applications may now proceed after the Government's U-turn, this piecemeal approach does not go far enough. Farmers need certainty – not chaos. It is time for the Government to pause and recalibrate its approach to rural Britain.”
Dr Shastri-Hurst reiterated his call for the Government to reconsider the Family Farm Tax, describing it as “a short-sighted policy with long-term costs,” and pledged to continue representing the farming community in Parliament as he calls for comprehensive strategy that supports British agriculture, safeguards rural livelihoods, and protects the integrity of the UK’s food supply chain.
