Enough with the “human shields”, Chancellor must meet with farming unions: Carmichael
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today called on the Chancellor to stop using “human shields” to avoid answering direct questions from MPs and farming representatives about the government’s changes to inheritance tax on farms.
During Treasury Questions in the House of Commons, Mr Carmichael asked “if the Chancellor will meet farming representatives to discuss the potential impact of changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief on farmers”.
Responding for the government, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury James Murray MP said:
“As the minister with responsibility for the UK tax system I have had several meetings with organisations on this matter since the Autumn Budget last year. On February 18th, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs and I met with the National Farmers’ Union, the Tenant Farmers’ Association, the Country Land and Business Association, the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, Ulster Farmers Union, NFU Scotland, NFU Cymru, and the Farmers’ Union of Wales.”
Mr Carmichael said:
“I thank the Chancellor’s human shield for that answer [laughter], but I have to say that the fact that the Chancellor sitting on the Treasury bench was not prepared to stand up and answer for herself demonstrates a distinct lack of respect, bordering on contempt for her farmers.
“Will she not meet the farming unions, the banks, the professional organisations, even the supermarkets themselves, to hear why they all think that her calculations are wrong? If the minister wants to ask her before he stands up, I’m sure we will allow him a second or two.”
The minister replied:
“That’s not the most dignified question from the Rt Hon Gentleman. I, on the Chancellor’s behalf, have met numerous organisations about this matter including those I listed before, including the Rt Hon Gentleman himself, when he came to the Treasury to meet me, including extensive debates in this place. We may not agree on the way forward but I don’t think anyone can accuse us of not having listened.”
Reacting after the exchange, Mr Carmichael said:
“The fact that the minister thinks he cannot be accused of ‘not having listened’ shows just how little he has listened to the farming communities.
“It is a damning indictment of the Chancellor’s approach that she refuses even to answer questions about her choices in Parliament, let alone face-to-face with farming representatives. If MPs cannot get direct answers from her in the House of Commons, what hope does anyone else have?
“Enough with the human shields – the Chancellor must meet with farming representatives before the farm tax comes into law.”