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The leader of Norfolk County Council has backed the EDP's Fair Deal for Farmers, warning that scrapping agricultural relief for inheritance tax could have major repercussions for the county. The EDP campaign is calling for a government u-turn on controversial changes announced in Labour's budget , which critics claim will push future generations to quit farming. Norfolk County Council leader Kay Mason Billig (Image: Norfolk County Council) Speaking at a meeting of Norfolk County Council council's cabinet on Monday, Kay Mason Billig, leader of Conservative-controlled County Hall, said: "We are traditionally an agricultural county.
"I note the front page of the EDP is actually saying this policy will kill off our farming future. "That's something that must be a great worry to all of us and to our farming fraternity. "We, as a council, will certainly be supporting them and I applaud the EDP for their stance on this because it is something that needs to be said.
"We will be following that up." Council leader Kay Mason Billig praised the EDP campaign (Image: Dan Grimmer) READ MORE: Norfolk County Council leader slams huge solar farm bids Chancellor Rachel Reeves Chancellor Rachel Reeves revealed in the autumn budget that she will "reform agricultural property relief" from April 2026. It will mean people inheriting assets of over £1m will face a 20pc inheritance tax bill.
Industry experts have warned that could push future generations to quit the farming business. The National Farmers' Union has said that could also push up food prices and destabilise the UK's supply chain. Kay Mason Billig says the government's changes should worry all of us (Image: Denise Bradley) Jerome Mayhew, Conservative MP for Broadland and Fakenham, warned the move would "spell the end of family farms".
But Ben Goldsborough, Labour MP for South Norfolk, insisted the policy was not "anti-farming" . Mr Goldsborough said: "The farmers I have spoken to recognise that the system needed reforming - it was being used by rogue actors looking for tax loopholes. "These changes are designed to protect proper family farms and secure their future, but stop unscrupulous people from abusing the system.
" But he - and his government's policy - was branded as "out of touch" by farmers, who said Labour had "misunderstood" what the average small family farm looked like..
