“British family farms face ruin under Labour’s tax plans, and yet we’re spending more—£536 million—on foreign farms.”
Labour is facing intense criticism following revelations in the Express that over £500 million of taxpayer money is being funnelled into farming projects overseas, while British farmers are left to contend with Labour’s crippling Farm Tax, pushing many to the brink of ruin.
Critics have slammed the move as a “slap in the face” to British agriculture and accused the Government of prioritising foreign interests over its own taxpayers.
Research by the TaxPayers’ Alliance found that £536 million is being funnelled into at least ten international farming projects in Africa, Asia, and South America through the UK’s aid budget. These include a £16 million scheme to produce tea in Rwanda and Grants to promote low-carbon agriculture in Brazil, the 11th richest country in the world.
The revelation has sparked outrage, particularly in light of Rachel Reeves’ decision to impose a crippling inheritance tax on British family farms, which the Treasury estimates will raise £520 million a year.
“Basically, the money Labour raise from crippling our own British farmers this year, will go straight out the door to farmers in far-flung places around the globe. The optics are terrible. It’s more Labour madness on steroids,” says Welsh farmer Joe Davies.
A Betrayal of British Farmers
Shadow Cabinet Minister Robert Jenrick agreed, saying its: “another slap in the face for our farmers. Labour give £500m to foreign farmers while British livelihoods are set to be destroyed by their cruel inheritance tax changes. It’s not too late for Reeves and Starmer to back down.”
Conservative MP Greg Smith, who represents rural Mid Buckinghamshire, calls the findings a “total outrage” and accuses Labour of destroying the livelihoods of British farmers while handing money to foreign competitors.
“It is beyond belief that Labour claims to be on the side of British farmers while simultaneously introducing the cruel Family Farm Tax, hiking the cost of fertiliser, and now directly funding foreign farmers,” he said.
Labour’s controversial Farm Tax, which will scrap inheritance tax relief on farms worth over £1 million, is expected to hit tens of thousands of family farms across the UK. Farmers say the policy risks forcing families to sell their land, threatening food security and Britain’s rural heritage.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage joined the backlash, demanding the Government “put British farmers first” and slamming the foreign aid spending as “a disgrace”.
“British family farms face ruin under Labour’s tax plans, and yet we’re spending more—£536 million—on foreign farms. Net Zero in Africa seems to matter more to this government than the traditional British landscape.”
The revelation that UK taxpayers are funding projects to support “low-carbon agriculture” in developing nations has also fuelled criticism of Labour’s Net Zero agenda. Critics argue the policy prioritises global green initiatives over domestic farming needs, leaving British farmers to bear the brunt of Labour’s economic decisions.
“Surely the British people eating home grown meat and produce is better than us importing food from half way across the world. Labour’s low-carbon accounting is wonky again. They just want to cover our countryside in solar panels and force us off our land” Farmer Joe Davies added.
British Farming in Crisis
As first reported in the Express, Joanna Marchong, investigations campaign manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, warned that British farmers are being pushed to the brink:
“British farmers will be outraged to hear that foreign farmers are getting more support from the Government than they are. Labour’s inheritance tax hike will force many farmers to sell off land that’s been in their families for generations—all for the sake of a few pennies in the Treasury’s coffers.”
As Storm Bert batters the UK this weekend with snow and freezing temperatures, rural communities are asking why Labour’s policies seem to prioritise tea in Rwanda over protecting British farms.
For many in Britain’s rural heartlands, the message is clear: Labour’s priorities lie anywhere but here.
Read the original article by Senior Political Correspondent Christian Calgie in the Express.
