A VOTE which could see the introduction of a long-mooted policy change relating to agricultural property relief has been criticised by the Conservative MP for Torridge and Tavistock.

Sir Geoffrey Cox said that the policy, also referred to as a ‘family farm tax’ risked driving working family farms to the brink.

The government’s proposals would see the end of tax relief on agricultural land for inheritance tax purposes, meaning that it would be subject to the levy.

Sir Geoffrey said of the vote: “It has confirmed what so many across Torridge and Tavistock already feared: this Government is intent on pushing ahead with a policy that risks driving working family farms to the brink.

“The government must reverse course before we see a generational catastrophe for the very people who put food on our tables. I have been in close contact with a number of our local family farmers and agricultural businesses, many of whom have been deeply concerned by the government’s recent vote on Agricultural Property Relief.

“Given the importance of farming, I felt it essential to hear directly from those whose livelihoods will be most affected. I met with several family farmers from across the constituency who described, with understandable anxiety, the uncertainty this policy now creates.

“Many spoke of the long hours and tight margins that define modern farming and of their fears that the withdrawal of this long-standing relief could place intolerable pressure on farms already stretched by rising costs and unpredictable weather.

“I was struck once again by the resilience of our agricultural community, which has come through Foot and Mouth, severe storms and the COVID years with remarkable determination. Yet there was a shared view that this latest development represents a challenge of a wholly different kind.

“I also held discussions with local land agents and rural support organisations, who explained the practical consequences that the changes could have—not only for family succession, but for food production, tenancy arrangements and the stability of the wider rural economy.

“Their message was blunt: without urgent reconsideration, viable family farms could be pushed to the point where they simply cannot continue. This is a prospect that should alarm anyone who values food security or the stewardship of our countryside.

“Throughout these conversations, it became increasingly evident that confidence in the Government’s approach has been badly shaken. Farmers here do not ask for special treatment; they ask only for a fair and workable system that allows them to plan for the future. The decision taken in Parliament this week does not provide that clarity or fairness.

“Instead, it exposes farming families—including the elderly and those dealing with ill-health—to unwarranted strain and jeopardises the rural way of life that has defined our constituency for generations. This policy is misguided and must be reversed. I will continue to press the Government to change course, and I will stand firmly with the farming families of Torridge and Tavistock in resisting a measure that threatens their futures and the vital work they do for all of us.”