Wiltshire farmers protest against 'devastating' tax changes

The Hitchings family have run Gurston Farm in Broad Chalke since 1887. 

Barney, 31, his wife Pippa, 32, and Barney's uncle Phillip attended the protests against the new rules in London on Tuesday (November 19). 

The family got an early morning coach from the Livestock market at Netherhampton to London with several other Salisbury and Chalke Valley Farmers of all ages - an estimated 10,000 people attended the protest. 

Farmers protest in central London over the changes to inheritance tax (IHT) rules in the recent budget which introduce new taxes on farms worth more than £1 million. (Image: James Manning)

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It comes after the Labour government announced in its October budget that it will introduce 20 per cent inheritance tax on farms. 

From April 2026, inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m, which were previously exempt, will be liable to the tax at 20 per cent. 

Other allowances could mean a couple who are married or in a civil partnership could pass on a farm worth as much as £3m.

However, many farmers argue that while they are asset rich - for example in terms of their property and livestock - they are cash poor and the changes would mean they would have to sell up to be able to pay the tax.

Gurston Farm is predominantly and historically an arable farm, but in recent years the family has worked hard to diversify.

Barney told the Journal: "Ultimately, we do not farm for the money, anyone in the industry knows there is very little to be had, but we farm because we love what we do, it is our life, not just our job.

"A major driving force in doing what we do is bettering the farm and passing it to your children, for them to run, and their children and so on. The removal of Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief(types of inheritance tax relief) will instantly stop this and it is truly devastating, and so unnecessary. "

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Barney says the Hitchings family simply couldn’t afford an inheritance tax claim on the freehold agricultural value of the farm, without a sale of a large proportion or the entirety of the family farms to fund it, or the signing up to lifetime of "eye watering debt".

From left: Willow, Barney and Pippa (Image: Contributed)

The government has offered a 10-year interest free option to pay an inheritance tax bill, but Barney says he does not think it is likely that anyone will take out such a loan.

He said: "While we have been granted £1m tax free allowance this does not go very far when considering the price of land, certainly in Wiltshire. "

Barney and Pippa, who have an 11-month old daughter, described the change in legislation as brutal and without warning, and said it will have "sudden and severe human consequences to the farming communities and those generations to come".

Barney added: "[It was] So avoidable, and directed at the completely wrong sector, as demonstrated by the vast numbers of farmers who travelled to London and joined together.

"It was an incredible attendance on Tuesday, with coach loads of farmers unloading for the meet at 11am. A peaceful rally and some fantastic and moving speakers, putting into words the real life consequences of the budget, and why it simply can’t be allowed."

Children on toy tractors during a farmers protest in central London over the changes to inheritance tax (IHT) rules in the recent budget which introduce new taxes on farms worth more than £1 million. (Image: Gareth Fuller)

Pippa said: “It was incredibly emotional, because at the forefront of all of it was everyone’s children, which is what is at the core of this.

“I think that when you have grown up learning the land, living with it, being a part of it to the point where it is literally what you do, there is no separation between your life and this area of land, you are part of it.

“The most emotional bit for most people was the children, because there was a separate procession with children on push-tractors, and it was really emotional because that is what the early mornings and late nights are for, and what working in the cold and in the rain, is for. You are passing it onto your family and providing something that is completely necessary for the country.”