A major supermarket has backed farmers as they protest against the Government’s planned inheritance tax raid, in a blow to Sir Keir Starmer.
Sophie Throup, the head of agriculture at Morrisons, told farmers on Saturday that the supermarket was “with” their community and understood “frustrations” about the raid.
Farmers are planning protests at supermarkets across Britain on Friday to oppose the tax raid on inherited agricultural land.
Ms Throup, who farms at her home in Yorkshire, said Britain’s fifth-biggest supermarket had raised “concerns with the highest level of government” since the changes were announced in the Autumn Budget.
Sharing a video on X, formerly Twitter, Ms Throup said: “We want to send a message of support today for the whole of the farming community.
“We understand your anger and your frustrations at the inheritance tax – and we’re with you.”
She added: “We share your concerns about the long-term future the inheritance tax is going to have on farms – particularly smaller, family farms – and we know that you want something done about it.
“We’ve been raising these concerns at the highest level of Government since November last year and we will continue to do so.”
Ms Throup, who joined Morrisons in 2017 after 10 years in the veterinary sector running research and training programmes, also encouraged farmers to contact her directly.
She said: “We know it’s important, we are with you, we’re here to help you. If you want to talk to me, please message me. We are here to help.”
The Government has so far refused to back down on planned changes to inheritance tax on farmland, despite warnings they could devastate family farms.
Under the changes, farming estates worth more than £1 million will be liable for 20 per cent inheritance tax from April 2026.
Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, has faced calls to make adjustments to the tax, including delaying its implementation to protect older farmers, and increasing the threshold.
People can pass on their estates tax-free while they are alive, but only if they live for another seven years.
Mo Metcalf-Fisher, external affairs director at the Countryside Alliance said: “This is a major development in the ongoing fight to get Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves to see sense.
“Their hated tax hike threatens the future of small family farms, the very people these supermarkets depend on to do business. We hope more supermarket chains stand with farmers and use their might to help force a government rethink before it’s too late”.
Responding to Ms Throup’s video on X, several farmers welcomed the support. However, others were not so quick to take the supermarket giant at its word.
Clive Bailye, founder of online platform The Farming Forum, told The Telegraph: “I don’t believe that supermarkets really care about farmers. If they did ,our returns wouldn’t be at the embarrassingly low levels they are.
“Their duty is to shareholders and there is nothing new about them claiming to support farmers, for marketing gain.”
He added: “What farmers have asked for, consistently, since the Budget, is to meet with and discuss solutions with the Government – so far that has not been offered. It’s not a big or unreasonable ask, really.”
“Supermarket CEOs and chairs may just be able to encourage the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to offer that meeting – it’s the only thing they can offer farmers that may place a hold on further action.”
An NFU spokesperson said: “We have been liaising with all retailers since the Budget on 30 October and we know that many have been lobbying Government at the highest level about the inheritance tax issues and other changes within the Budget.
