Glastonbury and Somerton MP Sarah Dyke has criticised the Government's planned changes to inheritance tax for agriculture, warning that they could force many family-run farms to shut down.

Speaking in Parliament, Ms Dyke, who serves as the Liberal Democrats' spokesperson on farming, described the policy as "short-sighted" and said the sector was already "facing a cliff edge" due to Brexit, rising energy costs, and what she called "terrible Conservative trade deals."

The proposed changes would impact Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR), which help farms pass down through generations without being hit by large tax bills. Under the new rules, the tax-free threshold would be set at £1 million—a figure Ms Dyke argued was "insulting" given the high land and equipment costs associated with modern farming.

She shared concerns raised by farmers across Glastonbury and Somerton, including a dairy farm near Bruton that has been in the same family for five generations. The owners told her they already struggle to make a living, and the changes would mean their son could face unaffordable tax bills just to continue running the farm after they pass away.

Ms Dyke also highlighted the mental health pressures on farmers, linking the tax changes to the ongoing 'Mind Your Head' campaign by the Farm Safety Foundation. She warned that the additional financial burden could worsen stress and anxiety in an industry already facing high suicide rates.

The MP questioned whether the Treasury's figures were accurate, pointing to a contradiction between the Government's claim that only 500 farms would be affected each year and the Office for Budget Responsibility's (OBR) figures, which suggest the impact could be far greater. She also criticised the Government for failing to properly assess how the tax would affect older farmers, many of whom might struggle to restructure their businesses in time.

Ms Dyke called for the Government to scrap the changes and find alternative ways to raise funds, suggesting higher taxes on big banks, online gambling profits, and tech giants instead.

The Liberal Democrats have pledged to invest £1 billion a year into sustainable farming, reduce trade barriers with Europe, and strengthen protections for farmers against unfair supermarket pricing.