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| Norfolk farmer confronts minister over inheritance tax | Norfolk farmer confronts minister over inheritance tax |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Mark Means said he was "angry" at the planned changes to inheritance tax | Mark Means said he was "angry" at the planned changes to inheritance tax |
| A farmer who challenged a minister over the inheritance tax changes said he did not think the government was listening to the industry's concerns. | A farmer who challenged a minister over the inheritance tax changes said he did not think the government was listening to the industry's concerns. |
| Mark Means, who grows crops near King's Lynn, confronted Daniel Zeichner after he gave a speech at the Norfolk Farming Conference earlier on Tuesday. | Mark Means, who grows crops near King's Lynn, confronted Daniel Zeichner after he gave a speech at the Norfolk Farming Conference earlier on Tuesday. |
| Zeichner had told the conference that the reform was part of a "difficult set of decisions" by the government. | Zeichner had told the conference that the reform was part of a "difficult set of decisions" by the government. |
| Mr Means said he felt the minister had only provided "platitude after platitude". | Mr Means said he felt the minister had only provided "platitude after platitude". |
| Under the government plans announced in last October's budget, a 20% inheritance tax on agricultural assets worth more than £1m will be introduced, although the threshold for some farmers to pay will be £3m. | Under the government plans announced in last October's budget, a 20% inheritance tax on agricultural assets worth more than £1m will be introduced, although the threshold for some farmers to pay will be £3m. |
| Mr Means, who was named farmer of the year by Farmers Weekly in 2024, said he hoped to pass on his business at Terrington St Clement to one of his two sons. | Mr Means, who was named farmer of the year by Farmers Weekly in 2024, said he hoped to pass on his business at Terrington St Clement to one of his two sons. |
| But the 55-year-old said there was "not a lot of incentive" to invest if "20% will be taken away if we don't pass it through a trust". | But the 55-year-old said there was "not a lot of incentive" to invest if "20% will be taken away if we don't pass it through a trust". |
| Daniel Zeichner said the government had to make "very difficult decisions" on tax | Daniel Zeichner said the government had to make "very difficult decisions" on tax |
| Zeichner had given a speech to the conference where he reaffirmed the government's commitment to getting farmers better pay from supermarkets. | Zeichner had given a speech to the conference where he reaffirmed the government's commitment to getting farmers better pay from supermarkets. |
| He also said the government was taking action to prevent the spread of diseases like bird flu and bluetongue. | He also said the government was taking action to prevent the spread of diseases like bird flu and bluetongue. |
| Zeichner is minister for food security and rural affairs. | Zeichner is minister for food security and rural affairs. |
| The packed audience at the Royal Norfolk Showground near Norwich politely applauded him, but he was questioned over the controversial plans for inheritance tax. | The packed audience at the Royal Norfolk Showground near Norwich politely applauded him, but he was questioned over the controversial plans for inheritance tax. |
| "The UK economy was not in a good place when we came into government," he told the room. | |
| "I was shocked by what I found in the department I inherited." | "I was shocked by what I found in the department I inherited." |
| Mr Means said he had previously taken part in protests by farmers in London | Mr Means said he had previously taken part in protests by farmers in London |
| Mr Means, who spoke to Zeichner after he left the stage, said he was not convinced farmers were being listened to. | Mr Means, who spoke to Zeichner after he left the stage, said he was not convinced farmers were being listened to. |
| "Its platitude and platitude from the minister – 'we're going to improve the borders, sort out a fair price for you from the supermarkets'," he said, speaking to the BBC after the confrontation. | "Its platitude and platitude from the minister – 'we're going to improve the borders, sort out a fair price for you from the supermarkets'," he said, speaking to the BBC after the confrontation. |
| "Those are all things they think are music to the ears of a farmer, but are they actually going to do any of it?" | "Those are all things they think are music to the ears of a farmer, but are they actually going to do any of it?" |
| He added that whilst he had not taken part in the most recent tractor demonstration at Westminster, he did previously and was now thinking about going to the next one. | He added that whilst he had not taken part in the most recent tractor demonstration at Westminster, he did previously and was now thinking about going to the next one. |
| "It's really wired me up to go again to London." | "It's really wired me up to go again to London." |
| 'Balanced' | |
| A government spokeswoman said it would invest £5bn into farming over the next two years. | |
| She reiterated that the new agricultural and business property reliefs would mean farmers would pay a "reduced" inheritance tax rate of 20% rather than the standard 40%. | |
| Payments could be spread over 10 years interest free, the spokeswoman added. | |
| "This is a fair and balanced approach, which fixes the public services we all rely on, affecting around 500 estates a year," she explained. | |
| Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. |