Rachel Reeves tells furious farmers it is 'fair' that they pay higher death taxes on their land amid rural anger led by Kirstie Allsopp and Jeremy Clarkson at Budget cash rai

The Budget also reduced cash for the Environment Land Management Scheme (ELMS). It was set up after Brexit to replace the EU Common Agricultural Policy, which subsidised measures including 'local nature recovery' habitat creation on farms.

Former minister George Freeman, MP for Mid Norfolk, said: 'Family farming is under attack from this government. The changes to APR will make it harder for family farmers of all sizes to pass on their proud agricultural tradition to the next generation. 

'How we manage our land is integral to tackling climate change, reversing biodiversity loss and ensuring our food security. But, combined with a trailed cut to the ELMS budget next year, the Government is playing fast and loose with family farms, our environment, our food security, and the local rural economy.'

Patrick Spencer, MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, said: 'If Labour is serious about its pledges to protect the environment, farmers and food security, it cannot go ahead with these changes to APR. 

'Farmers are the custodians of our countryside and their relationship with our land, unlike the Chancellor's own economic whims, spans generations, not just news cycles. Cutting the nature-friendly farming budget next year, as implied in this Budget, would be a fool's errand for a government supposedly wanting to fight climate change, protect nature and support British farmers. 

'In her misguided attempt to ''tax the rich'', she risks delivering a major blow to Britain's proud family farming tradition and the UK's environmental ambitions.'

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