
Aldi, Lidl and Ocado have backed calls for a pause on inheritance tax reforms to support farmers protesting the government’s proposed inheritance tax reforms.
Aldi signed a letter from the National Farmers Union (NFU) calling for a halt to the implementation of changes to the inheritance tax impacting family farms.
A spokesperson for the discount giant said: “British farmers and suppliers are the lifeblood of our business. We are proud of our support for the UK farming community and of the fact that 100% of our fresh everyday beef, pork, poultry, eggs, butter, milk and cream is British.
“We all need a farming sector that can confidently invest in its future and continue to produce high-quality British food.
“That’s why we are supporting the farming community’s calls for the government to pause the implementation of its proposed changes to inheritance tax until a further period of consultation has taken place.”
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Additionally, Lidl expressed “concern” that the inheritance tax changes would negatively affect UK farming.
In a statement, the discounter said: “Providing security and long-term investment for British agriculture is key to helping ensure that farmers can continue to produce affordable and increasingly sustainable food for generations to come.
“We are concerned that the recent changes to the Inheritance Tax regime will impact farmer and grower confidence and hold back the investment needed to build a resilient, productive and sustainable British food system.”
It continued: “We, therefore, support the call by the farming community to pause the implementation of those changes and to consult with industry to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome.
“We will be raising our concerns with government at any opportunity we get.”
The news come after Tesco called for the government to pause the proposed reforms earlier today (22 January).
Last week, Morrisons stood behind farmers as they protested against the government’s proposed inheritance tax changes, with the grocer’s head of agriculture Sophie Throup describing the measures as a threat to small, family-run farms.
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