This wasn't the only option – Helen challenges Family Farm Tax

North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan intervened in a Parliamentary debate to criticise Labour’s damaging plans to impose what has been dubbed the ‘Family Farm Tax’.

Speaking in the Westminster Hall debate, Helen highlighted the unfair impact the policy would have on family-run farms while questioning why Labour had failed to consider more targeted alternatives.

This is an especially important question in light of the recent discovery from the Office of Budgetary Responsibility that the tax changes are highly uncertain to raise what the Government claim.

Helen has been a vocal advocate for North Shropshire’s farming community and recently presented a petition with over 500 signatures from local farmers opposing Labour’s plans. The petition highlighted the deep concerns among farming families that the proposed tax changes could force them to sell off land or even shut down their businesses altogether.

The MP has pledged to continue standing up for Shropshire’s farmers, fighting the agricultural sector’s corner during this incredibly tough economic time.

Helen Morgan, Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire, said, “Farming is at the heart of rural communities like North Shropshire.

 “Labour’s approach threatens to place unbearable financial pressure on family farms, potentially forcing them to sell up while failing to touch the wealthiest landowners.

 “A fairer and more targeted approach could have been possible, but instead, Labour has chosen a policy that will hurt the very people we should be supporting.”

During the debate, Helen intervened to say, “I'm very grateful to the Honourable Lady for giving way, she's making an excellent speech. I wonder if she would agree with me that had the Treasury considered increasing the threshold and raising the overall rate for those very, very wealthy landowners to 40%, they might have actually achieved the outcome they were looking for. Although I would put on the record, I wouldn't have gone down the route that they have.”