Harvey Proctor is Private Secretary to the Duke of Rutland and was a Conservative MP from 1979 to 1987.
The high command of Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government is allegedly taking a hardline stance against British farmers, reminiscent of the treatment miners received under Margaret Thatcher. Yet, while Thatcher’s policies aimed to end the hazardous practice of coal mining, such a justification does not apply to penalising the agricultural sector, which is neither an obsolete industry nor a drain on public resources – it is a cornerstone of national sustainability.
The farming community staged a significant protest, in London and has beyond.
These demonstrations, driven by grievances over inheritance taxation and other perceived anti-business policies, highlight the growing discontent among those who feed the nation. It is deeply troubling that farmers, who are vital to both the economy and food security, feel compelled to take to the streets to make their voices heard.
Temporary tax gains for the Treasury should never outweigh the broader national interest. Instead, the government must, as they apparently keep claiming they are, adopt policies that enable British farmers to thrive. Agriculture contributes more than £13 billion annually to the UK economy, employing almost 300,000 people directly and sustaining countless more in associated industries. Inheritance tax policies that unfairly burden farming families risk undermining the long-term viability of these businesses.
Farmers are not just stewards of the land; they are innovators and community builders.
Across the UK, they invest heavily in modern technologies such as precision farming, renewable energy solutions, and sustainable practices to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact. These advancements require significant capital but yield benefits that extend beyond the farms themselves. Farmers also play a pivotal role in local economies, hiring local workers, supporting rural businesses, and creating a ripple effect that sustains entire communities. By undermining their ability to reinvest and grow, the government risks destabilising not only farming operations but also the economic ecosystems that depend on them.
During my time as MP for Billericay from 1983 to 1987, I had the privilege of representing many farming families. Their resilience in the face of challenges – from unpredictable weather to fluctuating market demands – left a lasting impression on me. In Parliament, I was a vocal critic of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, advocating for reforms that placed British farmers’ needs at the forefront.
Today, I urge the government to show similar courage and pragmatism.
The Belvoir Estate, where I serve as Private Secretary to the Duke of Rutland, is home to many tenant farmers who play an integral role in the local agricultural economy. My perspective on this issue is informed by decades of engagement with farmers across the country. This is not about protecting individual estates but about securing the future of British farming as a whole.
Governments must sometimes admit when they are wrong.
The current trajectory risks alienating a key pillar of our nation’s strength. I call on the government to listen to the National Farmers Union and the concerns of the farming community, to rethink its approach, and to stand with British farmers rather than against them.
In supporting agriculture, we are not merely safeguarding an industry—we are investing in the nation’s future.
