Eagle ‘sorry’ over family farm tax, campaigner says

The founder of Save British Farming says Defra secretary Dame Angela Eagle personally apologised for the government’s farm inheritance tax policy, raising hopes that ministers could revisit the measures in the Autumn Budget.

Liz Webster, a Wiltshire farmer who has been one of the most prominent voices opposing the policy, said the exchange took place when she met Dame Angela at a food security event in Westminster earlier this month.

See also: Blunkett tells Burnham to learn from family farm tax ‘mistakes’

Ms Webster attended the Feeding “Britain in an age of shocks: Food security and national resilience” event, where the Defra secretary delivered a speech highlighting the UK’s exposure to global food supply disruptions and the importance of domestic food production.

Recalling their conversation, Ms Webster said she asked Dame Angela how she had broken her arm before introducing herself as the organiser of major tractor rallies protesting against the inheritance tax changes.

“She replied, ‘Oh yes, I’m really sorry about that happening [farm inheritance tax]’,” Ms Webster told Farmers Weekly.

“She genuinely apologised for the farm tax. I told her, ‘It’s alright, you weren’t in office at the time’.”

Ms Webster said she took the remark as a possible indication that the government could reconsider the policy. “I saw it as a good indication that perhaps there was going to be a revisit of Keir Starmer’s family farm tax,” she said.

Farm invite

The campaigner also invited Dame Angela to visit her farm, as well as other farming businesses, to gain a greater understanding of the challenges facing food producers.

“Given the animosity between farmers and the government’s policy, I was really encouraged by Angela Eagle’s warmth and conciliatory tone,” she said.

“I hope that going forward we can find a way out of this pernicious tax, which is hanging over farming families like the Sword of Damocles, while they are already facing significant pressures.”

The inheritance tax changes have prompted widespread opposition across the farming industry since they were announced in April, with campaigners arguing that they could force some family farms to sell land or assets to meet future tax liabilities.

Liz Webster with members of Save British Farming at the London rally in February 2025 © MAG/Philip Case

Ms Webster helped organise tractor demonstrations in London in December 2024 and February 2025, with thousands of farmers travelling to Westminster to protest against the policy.

Her campaigning efforts are also set to feature in an Amnesty International UK documentary examining the farmer protests, due to premiere in London on 30 September.

Farm tax U-turn?

The comments come amid speculation in Westminster that ministers could make changes to agricultural and business property relief (APR and BPR) in the Budget on 30 October.

Pressure is also mounting from Labour MPs representing rural constituencies, many of whom have warned about the policy’s impact on farming families.

Writing in The Daily Telegraph last week, NFU president Tom Bradshaw urged ministers to abandon inheritance tax changes, warning that it was suppressing investment on UK farms and could ultimately undermine domestic food production.

Defra told Farmers Weekly that Dame Angela had a positive conversation with Ms Webster, but stressed that any decisions on inheritance tax are a matter for the chancellor.

Dame Angela served as Defra farming minister from 6 September 2025 to 12 June 2026, but was not in post when the farm IHT changes were announced by government.