Farmers For Action in London for opening day of the Judicial Review on Inheritance Tax
Farmers For Action’s Steering Committee were in London on March 17 at the opening day of the Judicial Review on Inheritance Tax brought by Peterborough farmer Tom Martin and an industry collective at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
William Taylor FFA said the “IHT case qualified for a Judicial Review due to the claim that Labour Ministers had only undertaken a limited consultation before announcing the introduction of IHT in Autumn 2024, therefore denying farming families and businesses /stakeholders proper consultation on the issue”.
And at the request of Tom Martin and his 74 year old father George, the number of tractors present was limited to five.
Mr Taylor said the court case started at 10.30am and lasted around four hours meanwhile Day Two “allowed the contest to begin”.
The legal challenge to farm inheritance tax reforms in the High Court, sees farmers and business owners arguing the government acted unlawfully by failing to properly consult on sweeping changes.
The legal challenge is being brought by Cambridgeshire farmer Tom Martin, his father George Martin, and the campaign group Farmers and Businesses for Fair Tax Relief. The claim is supported by law firm Collyer Bristow on behalf of Alvarez & Marsal.
Posting on Facebook ahead of the hearing, Tom Martin said: “I should be on the farm today planting barley or spreading fertiliser, but instead we’re at the High Court asking the court to declare that the chancellor’s decision not to consult properly on inheritance tax changes was unlawful.”
The claimants argue that the government promised to consult on major tax changes under its long-standing Tax Consultation Framework, in place since 2011, which commits ministers to “carry out at least one formal, written, public consultation in areas of significant reform”.
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