Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer has said proposed changes to inheritance tax relief for farmers will be ‘devastating’.

Speaking after the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) published new analysis on the impact of these cuts, the party’s agriculture spokesperson said:

“The British government’s plan to cut inheritance tax relief for farmers is a disastrous decision, and this is detailed in stark analysis published by DAERA.

“The department has concluded that around half of farms in the north will be affected by these proposed changes, as well as 80% of farm land being impacted. 

“Farmers are now genuinely worrying about the viability of their livelihoods, and what these proposed changes will mean for our agri-food sector and rural economy.

“I echo calls from the agriculture minister for the British government to reconsider these plans, and instead choose to support our farmers by reversing this decision.

“Vital agriculture relief must be retained, and I’ll continue to work alongside the minister and the other parties to press the British government for this.”