Labour is losing rural voters with two-thirds now believing Sir Keir Starmer‘s party doesn’t ‘understand or respect’ the countryside, a new poll has shown.
The stark results of the Survation research were revealed amid an ongoing row over the Government’s ‘family farm tax’, which has sparked protests across the UK.
At her recent Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced farmers will have to pay a 20 per cent rate of inheritance tax on land and property they inherit worth more than £1million.
Ministers have insisted it will only affect the wealthiest quarter of landowners. But the National Farmers’ Union and others say the impact will be much more widespread.
Critics claim the move could wipe out family-run farms with tight margins, as they will be forced to sell up in order to pay death duties.
The Survation poll of more than 1,000 people in England’s 100 most rural seats showed 58 per cent were opposed to the inheritance tax raid, with less than a quarter in support.
Even among Labour voters in those rural areas, 44 per cent were opposed to the Budget measures with only 37 per cent in favour.
The survey, commissioned by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), also showed nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of those who backed Labour at July’s general election are ‘unhappy’ with their vote.
Labour is losing rural voters with two-thirds now believing Sir Keir Starmer’s party doesn’t ‘understand or respect’ the countryside, a new poll has shown
Thousands of farmers descended on central London last month to protest against Labour’s inheritance tax changes
Among all voters, 66 per cent said Labour doesn’t ‘understand or respect rural communities’, which is up from 33 per cent before the election.
Three-fifths (60 per cent) said Labour had already broken its pledge to reverse countryside decline, and 70 per cent doubted the Government’s ability to boost the rural economy.
The general election saw Labour pick up a significant number of rural seats as support for the Conservatives declined.
But the poll suggested Sir Keir’s party had lost support since then and was now joint second with Reform UK in England’s 100 most rural seats, behind the Tories.
Countryside campaigners warned Labour it is facing a ‘long-running and toxic political battle’ over its inheritance tax raid on farmers.
Victoria Vyvyan, president of the CLA, said: ‘The Budget threatens business viability and the future of our rural communities.
‘The Government promised growth, and to be the ‘party of the countryside’, but you can’t tax your way to prosperity. Trust, once lost, is hard to win back.
‘Can Labour regain it? Only with a sincere apology, real action, and a clear commitment to the rural economy. Anything less, and the damage could be irreversible.’
Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs for the Countryside Alliance, said: ‘The family farm tax is fast becoming a toxic political issue.
‘Rachel Reeves needs to urgently rethink this policy in consultation with the farming community to avoid what will otherwise become a long-running and toxic political battle.’
The Toroes will tomorrow try and force a vote on Labour’s inheritance tax changes in the House of Commons.
Victoria Atkins, the Conservatives’ shadow environment secretary, said: ‘Labour’s vindictive family farm tax threatens to destroy British farming as we know it.
‘Labour MPs have a choice to make. Will they vote to axe the tax, and save the family farm? Or will they turn their backs on rural communities and back the Budget of broken promises?
‘Thousands of farmers descended on Westminster to try and make the Government listen. So far, they’ve refused. Labour MPs now have a chance to back British farming.’
A Government spokesperson said: ‘Our commitment to farmers and rural communities remains steadfast.
‘We are investing £5billion into farming over two years – the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history.
‘We are going further to support rural communities by turbocharging rural economic growth, introducing the first-ever rural crime strategy and lowering energy bills for rural households through GB Energy.
‘Our reform to agricultural and business property relief will impact around 500 estates a year.
‘For these estates, inheritance tax will be at half the rate paid by others, with 10 years to pay the liability back interest free.
‘This is a fair and balanced approach which fixes the public services we all rely on.’
The CLA poll was carried out by Survation between November 14 and 21, and surveyed 1,092 adults.