Farmer Took Own Life in Fear of Inheritance Tax Raid, Says Son

Farmer John Charlesworth has taken his own life in fear of the Government’s inheritance tax raid, his son has said. The Telegraph has more.

John Charlesworth, 78, was found dead at his 70-acre farm in Barnsley, Yorkshire, on Tuesday, 24 hours before the Budget.

His son Jonathan, 46, said the father-of-two ended his life after being “eaten away” at the prospect of his family losing the £2 million estate, which has been owned by the family since 1957, because of the Chancellor’s tax increase.

He told the Telegraph that hearing in advance of the Budget about Labour’s plans to end the practice of letting all farmers pass on estates without inheritance tax was the “final straw” for Mr. Charlesworth, who had been caring for his sick wife.

In a message to Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves, he said: “I would tell them they’ve killed my Dad. He didn’t know the details but all the scaremongering around it beforehand frightened him to death.

“He was the most kind-hearted person you’d ever meet, my Dad. He wouldn’t take any nonsense. He would do anything for anybody, I don’t think anyone had a bad word to say about my Dad.

“The battles we had guided me for the future. You couldn’t ask for better really.”

Last week, Ms. Reeves used her Budget to place a 20% tax on agricultural property assets worth more than £1 million, instead of allowing them to be inherited tax-free.

Ms. Reeves said the move was taken to stop wealthy people from buying up agricultural land to avoid inheritance tax but it has led to fears that scores of ordinary farmers could be forced out of business.

Concerns have also been raised about the impact the policy will have on farmers’ mental health.

Speaking in the Commons on Friday, Richard Tice, the Reform U.K. Deputy Leader, shared concerns that “heads of farming families in their 80s and 90s are seriously considering committing suicide before this policy comes into place”.

Worth reading in full.

Stop Press: Labour’s inheritance tax changes may mean more agricultural land becomes available for renewable energy projects across the U.K., renewable energy expert Gareth Phillips has said.