Keir Starmer claims 'first job was on a farm' as massive protest erupts

Keir Starmer said he's from a agrarian household (Image: Getty)

Sir Keir Starmer claimed his "first occupation was connected a farm" arsenic protests erupted successful London contiguous astir inheritance taxation changes.

Farming assets worthy much than £1 million, which were antecedently exempt, volition beryllium liable to 20 percent inheritance tax arsenic of April 2025, a determination which farmers accidental could permission galore penniless.

Speaking successful an interrogation with the BBC, Starmer responded to comments from Countryside Alliance president Baroness Mallalieu, who questioned whether Labour is excessively municipality to "get" the countryside.

Starmer commented: "My archetypal occupation was connected a farm. I grew up successful the countryside, each of my full household lives successful the countryside, we're a agrarian family. I'm the lone 1 who lives successful a city. I bash get it.

"That's wherefore I americium capable to accidental with assurance that that threshold for a emblematic lawsuit of £3 cardinal is simply a precise precocious threshold and truthful the immense bulk of farms volition beryllium unaffected."

The Met Police estimation 10,000 attended the protestation successful London contiguous (Image: Getty)

The Metropolitan Police estimated much than 10,000 radical protested successful London connected November 19 implicit the changes to inheritance tax. Presenter Jeremy Clarkson said "it's the end" for farmers.

Many farmers reason portion they are asset-rich successful spot and livestock, they are cash-poor, meaning the taxation changes could unit them to merchantability up, threatening the aboriginal of the UK's cultivation industry.

National Farmers' Union (NFU) president Tom Bradshaw told Sky News: "We'd emotion to wage much tax. If we get due margins from nutrient production, and we extremity up swelling the Treasury coffers, bring it on.

"But astatine the infinitesimal the proviso concatenation doesn't springiness america those returns that alteration america to prevention the wealth to wage the inheritance taxation that this authorities present wants to take."

Jeremy Clarkson has been vocal successful opposing the changes (Image: Getty)

Allowances could mean a mates who are joined oregon successful a civilian concern could walk connected a workplace worthy arsenic overmuch arsenic £3m.

Starmer besides spoke astir services successful agrarian communities: "I besides bash cognize it matters to agrarian communities that we are investing successful their NHS. They trust it conscionable arsenic overmuch arsenic anybody successful a municipality oregon city.

"It matters that their schools are acceptable for their children and it matters hugely that there's capable lodging for them and their household truthful it's affordable successful agrarian areas."