Farmer took his personal life ‘fearing Rachel Reeves’ funds inheritance tax raid’: Father-of-two’s fears of household dropping £2m property was ‘last straw’, son claims

A farmer tragically took his own life in fear of Labour’s inheritance tax raid, his son claimed today. 

John Charlesworth, 78, was found dead in the barn of his 70-acre farm in Barnsley on Tuesday, 24 hours before the Budget.

His 46-year-old son, Jonathan, said his father was left in despair at the prospect of his relatives losing his £2million estate, which has been in the family since 1957.  

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced at the Budget on Wednesday that she would charge inheritance tax on agricultural estates worth over £1milllion, when previously they had been exempt. 

Jonathan described the news as ‘the final straw’ for his father, who had been caring for his sick wife. 

John Charlesworth, 78, was found dead in the barn of his 70-acre farm in Barnsley on Tuesday, 24 hours before the Budget  

In a message to Ms Reeves and Keir Starmer, he told the Telegraph: ‘I would tell them they’ve killed my Dad. He didn’t know the details but all the scaremongering around it beforehand frightened him to death.

‘He was the most kindhearted person you’d ever meet, my Dad. He wouldn’t take any nonsense. He would do anything for anybody, I don’t think anyone had a bad word to say about my Dad.

‘The battles we had guided me for the future. You couldn’t ask for better really.’

Jonathan first revealed the tragic news of his father’s death on an anonymous post on the British Farming Forum. 

This was widely shared, but until today it had not been confirmed as genuine. 

He previously wrote in the post: ‘This morning I found my dad in the barn having taken his own life.

‘So afraid of the IHT implications on farms he took his own life rather than see the government take half the farm in IHT.

‘As a family, we are devastated and in shock! This is the human cost of government policy or potential government policy.

‘They claim to be for the working man, no man worked harder than dad. He increased the acreage from my grandad’s day and was proud of what he achieved.’

In the post, Jonathan also claimed they believed their father aimed to ‘beat the Budget by ending his life’ and that it is what happens when ‘you have built something your entire life and see it robbed from beneath your kids’ feet’.

Speaking in an interview from his home in Barnsley, Jonathan said his father had been ‘at a low ebb’ but the Budget was the ‘final straw’. 

He said the family did not make enough money to pay a large inheritance tax bill, nor would they be able to borrow it.   

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced at the Budget on Wednesday that she would charge inheritance tax on agricultural estates worth over £1milllion, when previously they had been exempt

Tom Bradshaw, President of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), said anger among farmers about the inheritance tax raid is ‘like I’ve never experienced before’ and said ‘many’ are considering drastic action.

Farmers are reportedly plotting a co-ordinated ‘sewage strike’ which would see them stop spreading sludge and biosolids – remains of human waste after liquid has been removed.

Experts say this could cause chaos for sewage and water companies as farmers in the UK take about 3.6 million tonnes of sewage sludge from water treatment plants and spread it on agricultural land.

Withdrawing this effective way to get rid of sewage waste would force bosses to suddenly find somewhere new to dumps millions of tonnes of sewage.

The Government expects the new tax rules to raise an extra half a billion pounds by 2028/9.

The Treasury says just 27 per cent of farms will be affected, but the NFU says the true figure, based on analysis of DEFRA figures, is 66 per cent.

Under plans announced at the Budget, inheritance tax will be charged at 20 per cent on farms worth more than £1 million

The new rules mean farmers can pass on £1 million of agricultural assets tax-free, in addition to exemptions for all inheritances – a £325,000 tax-free allowance, plus a further £175,000 for a main residence.

The Treasury argues this means most farmers can use all three and pass on £1.5 million of assets without tax – and if the farm is owned by a married couple, both are eligible for the exemptions. This would enable them to jointly pass on £3 million of assets. 

However, critics have repeatedly warned that farming families who are asset-rich on paper will now not have enough money to cover the inheritance tax. 

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