Labour MP has whip suspended after voting in opposition to authorities on Budget vote

A Labour has had the whip suspended today after rebelling against the government on a Budget vote.

The Penrith and Solway MP Markus Campbell-Savours voted against the plans to impose inheritance tax on farmers on Tuesday night. He told the Commons he had to do all he could for his community, warning the changes would leave many farmers “devastated at the impact on their family farms”.

He said during last year’s general election he assured farmers in his constituency Agricultural Property Relief, which reduces the amount of tax farm owners must pay when they pass on their land, “would not be touched”.

Mr Campbell-Savours said: “There remain deep concerns about the proposed changes to agricultural property relief (APR).

“Members across the House have made the case against these changes, changes which leave many, not least elderly farmers, yet to make arrangements to transfer assets, devastated at the impact on their family farms.

“Many farmers feared this was coming. Some transferred in advance. Others contacted Labour candidates who reassured them, based on public commitments from the then shadow secretary of state for Defra, that APR would not be touched.

“I was one of those Labour candidates, and it’s for that reason I’ll be voting against the Budget resolution enabling these changes.”
Mr Campbell-Savours said he wanted to be able to walk around his community “knowing I did all I could for them”, and could not do so if he broke his word.

It is understood Mr Campbell-Savours was informed by Labour’s Chief Whip Jonathan Reynolds he had had the party whip removed as a result of voting against the government.

At last year’s Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced reforms to Agricultural Property Relief. From April 2026, the 100% relief will be restricted to the first £1million, with a 20% rate over this threshold, leading to a huge backlash from farmers.

At last week’s Budget, Ms Reeves also announced that any of the £1million to relief that goes unused will be transferable between spouses and civil partners.