On Friday 6th December 2024
An opportunity for residents to hear about ongoing flood resilience work taking place, and river pollution problems, and to ask questions and speak with officials from Thames Water, Severn Trent, the Environment Agency, Gloucestershire County Council, Cotswold District Council and other stakeholders.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown highlights the impact of the Budget on farming and urges the Government to reverse their changes to inheritance tax which will result in many family farms having to be sold. He raises his concerns about the decrease in investment in the agricultural sector, as well as the number of jobs that might be lost if the Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) goes ahead.
Following the Government’s response to an Urgent Question on the Budget’s impact on farming communities, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown confronts the Minister with a heartfelt plea he received from a 75-year-old farmer who is angry that this Budget has, in his words, “destroyed everything I have ever worked for.”
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown criticises raising taxes and borrowing by a staggering £40 billion each; with increases in inheritance tax, capital gains tax, mortgages, stamp duty, and employment costs. He raises real concerns that proposed changes to agricultural and business property relief will significantly impact farmers and rural communities, leading to the fragmentation of family farms and changes to national insurance will make it harder for small businesses to grow.