David Chadwick Joins Local Farmers for London Demonstrations

Today (19th November), David Chadwick MP met with his constituents to discuss issues impacting rural communities, as thousands of farmers came to Westminster to air their concerns over the blow the Budget has dealt to family farms. 

Farmers from Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe raised their concerns about the impact of the family farm tax with David Chadwick.

David Chadwick discussed the impact these taxes would have on communities across Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, and is urging the government to axe the family farm tax. 

He also organised a meeting between local farmers and Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader & Treasury Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP inside of Parliament.

The challenges farming communities face can be seen across the board, with the latest statistics revealing that in 2023/24, average Farm Business Income was lower for all farm types except for specialist pig farms. 

Farmers across Wales are still dealing with the change in payment schemes post-Brexit and the Welsh Labour Government’s botched Sustainable Farming Scheme (SfS). This is on top of the impacts of the energy crisis and fertilizer prices.  

There have also been concerns over the national insurance rise, the removal of previously ringfenced agricultural funding for the Welsh Government and signs that the UK agricultural budget could be cut in the Spring Statement.

The Liberal Democrats are also calling for an additional £1 billion a year in support for farmers, including £50 million a year extra for Wales. The Party has also called on Rachel Reeves to raise the money needed for the country by taxing big banks and social media giants rather than taxing family farms and small businesses.

Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor & Cwm Tawe David Chadwick said:

“Family farmers across Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe have already been failed by a Conservative party that didn’t care about them - they can’t now be let down by a Labour government that doesn’t understand them. 

“Liberal Democrats are standing up for rural communities, and calling for an axe to the family farm tax that would be disastrous for farmers across Wales.

“British farmers are already battling with sky-high energy bills and botched overseas trade deals, and this hike will only make things much worse.

“Farming is a unique business - the most important asset for any farm is the land. If farmers are forced to sell land every time the farm changes hands within the family, the family business will become impossible to sustain. I will continue to oppose these proposals and persuade the government to change its mind.”

ENDS