The proposal to scale back inheritance tax (IHT) relief on farmland is mired in fresh controversy, with a former Labour special adviser insisting that farming is an industry “we could do without”.
John McTernan’s comments during a television interview have poured further fuel onto the flames of anger within the farming community that have been burning since the government’s autumn Budget.Mr McTernan, who served as Tony Blair’s political secretary from 2005 to 2007, was interviewed on GB News on 11 November, during which he said Labour should “do to the farmers what [Margaret] Thatcher did to the miners”.
See also: BPS cuts were needed to save farming budget, says Bradshaw
In the interview, he said farming was “an industry we can do without”, adding: “If people are so upset that they want to go on the streets and spread slurry then we don’t need small farmers.” This was apparently a reference to unconfirmed reports of direct action.
Country Land and Business Association (CLA) deputy president Gavin Lane described the comments as “insulting”.
“British farmers are central to feeding the nation, looking after the environment, providing jobs and supporting the rural economy, and to claim otherwise is insulting,” he said.
Referencing Mr McTernan’s interview in a post on X, Welsh beef farmer and retired rugby union referee Nigel Owens wrote: “Wow. Just wow. Who the hell is this clown?” More of this article (Farmers Weekly) - link - John McTernan on X - link - more like this (farming) - link - more like this (protest) - link
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