Farming families impacted by changes to inheritance tax will travel to the Senedd on Wednesday, March 5 to urge Senedd Members to support a Plaid Cymru motion calling for the policy to be reconsidered.

The debate and vote will be seen as a last-ditch effort to persuade the Welsh Government to send a clear message to their Labour colleagues in Westminster. It comes just weeks before the UK Spring Budget which provides an opportunity for Rachel Reeves to announce a change in policy.

NFU Cymru will be co-ordinating meetings between delegations of farming families and their elected representatives on the day of the debate to urge politicians from all parties to support the motion.

The Senedd debate will be led by Plaid Cymru’s Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs Llyr Gruffydd MS.

He said: “This UK Government decision will have devastating consequences for farming families across Wales.

“Wales is not a nation of millionaire farmers. Our family farms operate on tight margins, and are cash-poor. Many are already in debt. These changes will result in families having to sell off land, cutting into their livelihoods and making their farms less viable for future generations.

“The policy is unforgiveable and utterly counter-productive at a time when we need to be strengthening our food security not undermining it.

“That’s why Plaid Cymru is calling on the Welsh Government to make the strongest possible case to their Labour colleagues in London to change course.”

NFU Cymru President Mr Aled Jones said: “If the UK Government’s planned inheritance tax changes go ahead then they will have an incredibly detrimental impact on Wales’s family farms and all of the businesses which in turn rely on them.

“By placing unsustainable tax liabilities on the backbone of our food system, the UK Government risks dismantling a vital sector and hollowing out our rural communities.

“I therefore very much welcome the fact that Plaid Cymru has secured this debate, it is vital that the impacts of these proposals on Wales are heard and properly considered here at the Senedd.”