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| Tractor rally at Fakenham race meet in protest at tax plans | |
| (5 days later) | |
| Anyone arriving in a tractor was offered free admission to Fakenham Racecourse, as a show of support for farmers | Anyone arriving in a tractor was offered free admission to Fakenham Racecourse, as a show of support for farmers |
| A racecourse boss has said he was pledging "solidarity and support" for farmers by asking them to turn up to a meeting in their tractors. | A racecourse boss has said he was pledging "solidarity and support" for farmers by asking them to turn up to a meeting in their tractors. |
| Fakenham Racecourse, in Norfolk, offered free entry to anyone arriving in a tractor in response to the government's plans to change inheritance tax on farms. | Fakenham Racecourse, in Norfolk, offered free entry to anyone arriving in a tractor in response to the government's plans to change inheritance tax on farms. |
| Racecourse chief and clerk David Hunter said about 60 tractors turned up to the meet, stating: "We're with the farmers on the concerns they have." | Racecourse chief and clerk David Hunter said about 60 tractors turned up to the meet, stating: "We're with the farmers on the concerns they have." |
| The government has said money raised by the tax change in April 2026 will help fund improvements to public services, including those in the countryside. | The government has said money raised by the tax change in April 2026 will help fund improvements to public services, including those in the countryside. |
| Fakenham Racecourse chief David Hunter said the farming and racing industries were closely linked | Fakenham Racecourse chief David Hunter said the farming and racing industries were closely linked |
| Most tractors came from Norfolk and Suffolk, but some made the journey from Essex to park alongside the course. | Most tractors came from Norfolk and Suffolk, but some made the journey from Essex to park alongside the course. |
| "It's very important because it's a way of illustrating the concerns - not just for the farming community, but associate businesses as well," said Mr Hunter. | "It's very important because it's a way of illustrating the concerns - not just for the farming community, but associate businesses as well," said Mr Hunter. |
| "We're very lucky at Fakenham, we're hugely supported by the farming community. | "We're very lucky at Fakenham, we're hugely supported by the farming community. |
| "Norfolk... is a very important rural county producing a lot of food, and we're with the farmers on the concerns they have of the government's desire to implement inheritance tax onto family farms and the devastation it could have." | "Norfolk... is a very important rural county producing a lot of food, and we're with the farmers on the concerns they have of the government's desire to implement inheritance tax onto family farms and the devastation it could have." |
| He said he feared the tax could also directly affect the racing industry. | He said he feared the tax could also directly affect the racing industry. |
| He said farms had needed to diversify to find new ways of making money, which had included setting up equestrian centres, stabling and breeding facilities. | He said farms had needed to diversify to find new ways of making money, which had included setting up equestrian centres, stabling and breeding facilities. |
| Mr Hunter added that visitors to the National Hunt race meeting had been widely supportive of the tractor turnout. | Mr Hunter added that visitors to the National Hunt race meeting had been widely supportive of the tractor turnout. |
| He added it was the first time in his 28-year career that a course meeting had been broadcast on terrestrial TV and he hoped it would help publicise the cause. | He added it was the first time in his 28-year career that a course meeting had been broadcast on terrestrial TV and he hoped it would help publicise the cause. |
| NFU Norfolk chairman Tim Papworth said farmers needed to take a stand | NFU Norfolk chairman Tim Papworth said farmers needed to take a stand |
| Tim Papworth, Norfolk chairman of the National Farmers' Union (NFU), was at the meeting. | Tim Papworth, Norfolk chairman of the National Farmers' Union (NFU), was at the meeting. |
| "We've got to do something about it otherwise our farms won't be able to be passed down to the next generation and will probably be sold off," he said. | "We've got to do something about it otherwise our farms won't be able to be passed down to the next generation and will probably be sold off," he said. |
| From April 2026, any land worth more than £1m will be taxed upon the death of its owner at a rate of 20%, half the usual rate of 40%. | |
| Farming minister Daniel Zeichner, the MP for Cambridge, has previously told the BBC: "I urge people to look calmly at the detail and I think they will find that the vast majority will be fine. | Farming minister Daniel Zeichner, the MP for Cambridge, has previously told the BBC: "I urge people to look calmly at the detail and I think they will find that the vast majority will be fine. |
| "The figures from the Treasury are very clear: under 500 farms a year are likely to be affected." | "The figures from the Treasury are very clear: under 500 farms a year are likely to be affected." |
| Tractors lined up alongside the racecourse | Tractors lined up alongside the racecourse |
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