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Local politicians show support for NFU action day in Kelso

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Tuesday, 28 January, 2025
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Rachael Hamilton with campaigners

Borders politicians have called for the UK Labour government to listen to farmers and rethink "damaging" and "divisive" policies.

The message to Labour comes after the National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) held a "day of action" on Saturday in Kelso.

Local MSP Rachael Hamilton attended the event, which saw a tractor parked in the town square.

The NFUS said the day of action was intended to "convey our ever-growing concerns of the UK Government’s decision to change Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR)."

The NFUS said the changes "will negatively impact agricultural businesses" and the sector "needs the UK Government to properly engage and consult on an alternative approach - one that does not have deep negative impact and unintended consequences for the future of farming."

Ms Hamilton and Borders MP John Lamont have campaigned against Labour's Family Farm Tax since its introduction at the UK Budget in October.

The Scottish Conservatives launched a petition calling for Labour to halt the tax changes, which is available here: https://www.whatlaboursaid.com/stop-the-family-farm-tax.

In December, John Lamont MP asked the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer why Labour had introduced the Family Farm Tax and accused him of "betraying" farmers.

The party has also won a vote in the Scottish Parliament calling for Labour to halt the tax.

Borders MSP, Rachael Hamilton, said: "Despite the difficult conditions in the aftermath of Storm Eowyn, many Borders residents still made it out to show our support for local farmers at this day of action.

"Agriculture businesses are the backbone of the rural economy. They should be supported, not hit with further tax hikes on top of Labour's increase to National Insurance which is already hurting all enterprises and putting jobs at risk.

"Labour must rethink the damaging and divisive policies they have introduced or they will run farmers out of business, put our food security at risk, drive up supermarket prices, and increase costly imports of foreign food that isn't environmentally friendly."

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Rachael Hamilton MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire

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