Britain’s food security hangs in the balance as agricultural land is lost to pay inheritance tax bills, writes Sarah Jordan

A recent survey carried out among 500 farmers and landowners by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has highlighted the far-reaching consequences of the Treasury’s plans to cut vital inheritance tax reliefs for farms and family businesses from April 2026.

Nearly 80 per cent of respondents said they are worried their business will not survive the next 10 years, while over 60 per cent have considered selling their farm and leaving the industry.

The Agricultural and Business Property Relief changes (APR and BPR) represent a seismic shift from tax-free succession to potentially crippling liabilities, transforming inheritance from a seamless transition into a financial crisis that could force the break-up of family farms – with the broader consequence that Britain’s food security hangs in the balance as agricultural land is lost to development or non-farming uses to pay inheritance tax bills.

Tax........

© City A.M.