A farmer has claimed that some older members of the agricultural community are considering using assisted dying legislation before inheritance tax changes come into effect in 2026.
Speaking on GB News, Clive Bailye shared disturbing messages he had received from farmers planning to end their lives before new tax rules are implemented.
The admission comes weeks after thousands of farmers marched through London to protest against the government’s planned changes to agricultural property relief, which will impose a 20 per cent inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1m.
“Since the rally in London a couple of weeks ago, we’ve had thousands of messages from farmers for all sorts of reasons,” Bailye told GB News.
Clive Bailye’s admission left Martin Daubney ‘heartbroken’
GB NEWS
“Amongst those messages is something a lot darker. I’ve had people sending me messages of a long, complicated history.”
“April 2026 is when these changes come in. Older generations are saying the simple solution is to make sure they’re dead before then,” he revealed.
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Farmer Clive Bailye spoke on GB News
GB NEWS
“I’m a counsellor and I found it difficult to deal with these messages. I signposted some people to others who can help. I just think it’s not been thought through with this deadline.”
Under the new policy announced in Rachel Reeves’s Budget, farms will face inheritance tax of 20 per cent on value above £1m from April 2026.
Currently, agricultural property relief allows farmers to pass their farms to descendants without paying inheritance tax.
The Treasury estimates around 500 estates per year will be affected by the changes, though the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers suggests it could impact up to 2,500 farms annually.
Thousands of farmers protested in Westminster last month against the reforms, which the National Farmers’ Union warns could force many family farms to be sold to pay tax bills.
The government maintains that 73 per cent of farmers will not be affected by the changes.
Martin Daubney described Bailye’s admission as “staggering” and “heartbreaking” on GB News.
The revelations highlight growing concerns about the impact of the tax changes on farming communities.
Analysis by the Country Land and Business Association suggests that a 200-acre farm could face an inheritance tax bill of up to £435,000, payable over ten years.
To meet such payments, farms would need to allocate 159 per cent of their yearly profits for a decade, or sell off significant portions of their land.
The Treasury has defended the reforms, saying they ensure “wealthier estates and the most valuable farms pay their fair share” to fund public services.
