MPs warn of farmer bankruptcy as Kemi Badenoch visits Buckinghamshire

Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch was joined by Shadow Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Victoria Atkins as she visited J H and Son farm near Long Crendon on Thursday.

The opposition leader, who just one day before had led her first PMQs, headed to Buckinghamshire to speak to farmers about their concerns at the latest budget. 

Mid Buckinghamshire MP, Greg Smith also attended as the leader was shown around the farm, sitting down with farmers to talk through the issues facing agriculture. 

Ms Atkins, who was appointed as rural affairs boss during Ms Badenoch's recent re-shuffle slammed the Government for its recent budget which she said would be "highly damaging". 

READ MORE: Farmers may never trust Labour again after inheritance tax change, say Tories

She told the Free Press: "The National Insurance rise will start hurting local businesses immediately when it comes in."

The MP also said there were concerns about how changes to inheritance tax would impact on farmers. 

"Those farms and the succession of those farms is now in doubt because of the way in which the policy has been created by the Labour Government.

"Like any business, farmers have to plan for the future, they have a lot to contend with. Let's not forget the weather has been particularly unkind.

"On top of this, the Labour Government has just landed a load of risk and a huge load of worry on their shoulders.

"That is why as far as I can tell most of these farmers and their friends will be coming to Westminster next week to stand alongside Greg, me, Kemi and others to try to ensure that this Labour government changes its mind and sees sense."

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and Greg Smith MP during a visit to Seed J H & Son farm in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Picture date: Thursday November 14, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story POLITICS Tories. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire (Image: Joe Giddens)

Farmers are currently being urged to register for an independent farmers’ rally in London on November 19. 

But Mid-Bucks MP, Greg Smith said Labour MPs don't understand farming adding that he is "one of the few MPs that has actually brought a crop in."

He added: "I find when I’m talking to farmers they respect the fact that I understand farming, and in the new Government they see politicians that simply don’t.

"In Labour, you just don’t see that at the moment and that is coming across in the responses I’ve had to questions in the House of Commons in recent weeks.

"The carbon tax is going to put £50 to £75 of tax on fertiliser. There are only two ways that is going to go.

"That’s either going to put food prices or make farmers bankrupt. I just don’t think Labour get that."