SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, is backing an appeal to highlight the UK Labour Government’s tax raid on farming families.
Mr Rowlands, a keen supporter of farmers in North Wales, has added his voice to a campaign by the National Farmers Union Cymru.
Mr Rowlands said: “I am happy to back and promote NFU Cymru’s toy appeal as part of their continuing campaign against the UK Government’s controversial changes to inheritance tax.
“Last month I supported the Farming Day of Unity and recently met with farmers on the Senedd steps to join their protest.
“Farmers are unsung heroes and play a vital role in producing food for us all, working hard day in and day out to produce the nation’s food. They also help in other ways including nurturing the environment, boosting the Welsh economy and supporting tourism.
“Labour’s attitude towards farmers, both in the UK and Welsh Governments, is very concerning and it is no surprise that farmers across the UK are protesting and they have my full support.”
NFU Cymru is seeking donations of pre-loved farm toys as part of its ongoing Stop the Family Farm Tax campaign.
The toy appeal is seeking thousands of toys, from handheld farm toys to ride-on tractors, to encapsulate the effect of the UK Government’s proposed inheritance tax changes on family farms.
The eye-catching large collection of toys will form an exhibit at the QEII Centre in London on the day of the NFU Conference, Tuesday February 25, alongside a display showcasing how farm machinery has evolved over generations.
The union is requesting that donations are not broken beyond use and do not have sharp edges or missing parts. Donations should be packed in sturdy bags or boxes to prevent damage during transport. The deadline for toy donations will be Wednesday February 19.
NFU Cymru President Aled Jones said: “We’re asking people across Wales to send us their pre-loved farm toys so we can showcase to UK Treasury the impact that this ill-considered policy will have on generations of family farms.
“Please get your toy tractors to your local NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual office by Wednesday February 19. Together we can make this an unmissable visual statement of the industry’s opposition to the UK Government’s family farm tax.”
The NFU Cymru toy donation and subsequent exhibit is the latest activity in a long line of NFU lobbying following the UK Government’s budget announcement in October last year, when the Chancellor put forward plans for changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR). Farming unions state that the changes could decimate family farms in Wales and across the UK, with data evidencing that 75% farm businesses could be affected.
