Farmers stage demonstration over inheritance tax

A group of farmers have held a demonstration against the government's inheritance tax reforms.

Organiser Farmers to Action said about 25 members joined the action in Exeter.

Ben Drury, who farms near Dartmouth, said: "We are campaigning for no inheritance for everyone and we are starting to get the message across."

A government spokesperson said reforms meant estates will pay a reduced effective inheritance tax rate of 20%, rather than a standard 40%, and payments can be spread over 10 years interest-free, in a "fair and balanced approach".

The government says the reforms will make inheritance tax fairer with only the wealthiest 500 estates in the country paying more each year.

But farming groups have disputed the government figures, including suggestions about two thirds of farms could potentially be affected by the Budget tax change.

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