Kurtz Applauded by Farmers Following Senedd Speech
Kurtz Applauded by Farmers Following Senedd Speech
Applause from the public gallery followed an impassioned speech by local Senedd Member Samuel Kurtz, as he called on the UK Labour Government to scrap their changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR).
The debate saw Welsh Conservatives and Plaid Cymru unite in calls for the Welsh Labour Government to urge their counterparts in Westminster to reconsider the policy, which has sparked widespread concern among Welsh farmers.
The removal of APR could force many Welsh family farms to sell off land to pay inheritance tax following the death of the farm owner, jeopardising their profitability, impacting the mental health of farmers and opening the door for a takeover of farmland by companies for greenwashing.
Speaking after the debate, Samuel Kurtz said:
“It is shocking that the Welsh Labour Government remains silent on the issue of APR. Even Welsh Labour MPs have recently voiced their support for reviewing this decision.
“The Welsh First Minister met with the Chancellor, the very person leading these changes, and raised none of the concerns of Welsh farmers. I believe this is a dereliction of duty from a First Minister who is supposed to represent all of Wales and all of its people.
“We had the opportunity, as a Senedd, to send a unified message down the M4 to Westminster in support of our farmers, but Labour chose not to take it.
“We must continue applying pressure on both the Welsh and UK Labour Governments. Once family farms are sold off, they will be lost forever, depleting the rural communities that are so much the lifeblood of Wales.”
Kurtz Applauded by Farmers Following Senedd Speech
Kurtz Applauded by Farmers Following Senedd Speech
Applause from the public gallery followed an impassioned speech by local Senedd Member Samuel Kurtz, as he called on the UK Labour Government to scrap their changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR).
The debate saw Welsh Conservatives and Plaid Cymru unite in calls for the Welsh Labour Government to urge their counterparts in Westminster to reconsider the policy, which has sparked widespread concern among Welsh farmers.
The removal of APR could force many Welsh family farms to sell off land to pay inheritance tax following the death of the farm owner, jeopardising their profitability, impacting the mental health of farmers and opening the door for a takeover of farmland by companies for greenwashing.
Speaking after the debate, Samuel Kurtz said:
“It is shocking that the Welsh Labour Government remains silent on the issue of APR. Even Welsh Labour MPs have recently voiced their support for reviewing this decision.
“The Welsh First Minister met with the Chancellor, the very person leading these changes, and raised none of the concerns of Welsh farmers. I believe this is a dereliction of duty from a First Minister who is supposed to represent all of Wales and all of its people.
“We had the opportunity, as a Senedd, to send a unified message down the M4 to Westminster in support of our farmers, but Labour chose not to take it.
“We must continue applying pressure on both the Welsh and UK Labour Governments. Once family farms are sold off, they will be lost forever, depleting the rural communities that are so much the lifeblood of Wales.”