Farmers in the `UK feel betrayed by Keir Starmer and the Labour party
Sir Keir Starmer has been cautioned about a dramatic decline in his ratings among rural voters, who are upset by his “family farm tax”. Polling for The Telegraph reveals that just one in five voters thinks Labour is concerned about people living and working in the countryside.
A survey by Public First, a political consultancy, interviewed over 2,000 adults and found only 22% believe Labour cares for those in rural areas. Among those who voted Labour in the last general election, the figure only increased to 40%.
James Frayne, a partner at Public First, commented, “Labour’s ratings with voters in general are poor, but with rural voters, they are catastrophic.” He noted that while Labour might have expected some negative reactions from countryside voters, they might be taken aback by the widespread dissatisfaction expressed by ordinary voters.
This backlash follows several unpopular policy decisions, particularly changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) announced in the Budget. Farmers argue these changes could force many out of business. Starting April 2026, farms valued over £1 million will face a 20% levy, which is half the usual rate for inheritance tax.
Rural groups claim that the £1 million threshold will impact most working family farms—rich in assets but poor in cash—instead of targeting wealthy individuals buying land to avoid inheritance tax.
Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trade Union Congress, became the first major union leader to oppose the policy, expressing concern about its impact on small farmers. He stated, “You wouldn’t want the policy to impact on small family farms, because that was never the intention.” He emphasized the government’s responsibility to prove that these changes won’t hurt small operations.
Public First’s research also illustrates that voters perceive the Green Party as more attentive to rural issues than Labour. When asked which political parties best understand rural life, the Conservative Party led the responses, followed by Reform, the Green Party, and then Labour, with a mere 19%. The Liberal Democrats lagged behind Labour at 12%.
Further analysis by the Countryside Alliance shows there are 135 rural or semi-rural constituencies represented by Labour MPs, many elected with narrow margins. James Frayne added, “People put blind faith in Labour [at the election]. There are constituencies Labour has little history of representing. Many thought Labour couldn’t be worse than what they had, but now some find it’s worse. The anger towards Labour is noteworthy.”
Public First also conducted in-depth interviews revealing rural voters’ dissatisfaction with the government’s performance. In Banbury, on the edge of the Cotswolds, voters reported Labour had a rocky start and not much had changed, though it might be too soon to make final judgments.
Ian Deacon, a former Conservative voter now in his sixties, switched to Labour at the last election but now sees it as a “wasted vote”. He remarked, “The Conservatives needed to go, but perhaps another path would have been better.” If an election were tomorrow, he would “probably vote Reform”.
Ian Haynes, another ex-Conservative who voted Reform, still stands by his choice, stating the Tories “lost their way” and that he doesn’t hear convincing arguments against Labour’s policies.
Judy Carter, a teacher who voted Labour, acknowledged, “For a more equitable society, everyone, including farmers, should shoulder some cuts.” However, she believes the tax’s impact will be limited to a small number.
An ex-Tory voter who backed Labour now feels the government is performing “terribly”. He criticized the Chancellor’s Budget, labeling it a “Budget for absolute decline,” not growth.
A government spokesman stated, “Our commitment to farmers remains steadfast. We’ve allocated £5 billion to the farming budget over two years, including more funds than ever for sustainable food production. We’re developing a 25-year farming roadmap to enhance sector profitability.”
Concerning APR reforms, he explained, “These changes will affect roughly 500 estates annually. Those estates will pay inheritance tax at half the usual rate, with a decade for interest-free repayment. It’s a fair approach balancing public service needs.”
Farmers in Lincolnshire including in Skegness, and Lincoln feel let down by Keir Starmer and want him to reverse the tax rule.
