Starmer backs down in farm tax row - but why now?

"The government's partial U-turn on what opponents dubbed the "farms tax" was a Christmas present for those who had campaigned against the imposition of 20% inheritance tax from next April. About half the farms that would have been affected will now be exempt. But given that minsters had defended the policy in the 14 months since last year's Budget, the questions are: Why change it? And why now?"

"Sustained protests - the regular convoys of tractors, horns blaring, converging on Parliament Square - certainly played a part. The National Farmers' Union which had organised the noisy demonstrations had also engaged in quieter diplomacy behind the scenes with Downing Street and the agriculture department. It has been reported that discussions shifted to mitigating rather than obliterating the policy completely. But there are other factors. A consequence of last year's landslide Labour election victory is that more of the party's MPs represent rural and semi-rural seats."

"While only one voted against, more than 30 of them actively abstained on a parliamentary vote on the inheritance tax policy earlier this month to demonstrate their concerns. Beyond this, the reasons for the timing of the government's volte face are speculative. One of the rural rebels told me that conversations with ministers had been more positive this month - though they had not been told in advance of yesterday's announcement."

The government announced a partial U-turn that will exempt about half of farms from a planned 20% inheritance tax due from next April. Sustained protests, including regular convoys of tractors converging on Parliament Square, and National Farmers' Union diplomacy influenced the response. Internal pressure from newly elected rural and semi-rural Labour MPs led more than 30 to abstain on a vote to signal concern. The precise timing of the reversal remains speculative. Some rural rebels reported more positive ministerial conversations shortly before the announcement. Sir Keir Starmer's liaison-committee appearance and sharp questioning may also have been a factor.

Read at www.bbc.com