ANGELA Rayner today dismissed fears over the family farm tax as “scaremongering”.
Standing in for Sir Keir Starmer at deputy-PMQs, the firebrand politician doubled down on Labour’s brutal inheritance raid – and even refused to rule out further hikes.
In a packed out Commons the Deputy Labour Leader said: “Our plan is sensible, fair and proportionate and protects the smaller estates while fixing public services that they rely on.”
Just a day after 20,000 furious agricultural workers marched on Westminster, Ms Rayner added there’s been “scaremongering” around how many farmers will be impacted.
Standing in for Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Alex Burghart accused Labour of “punishing” Brits that didn’t vote for them.
He said: “The truth is that this is a punishment meted out to people who don’t vote Labour.
“It is the same punishment meted out to parents who send their children to private schools.
“It is the same punishment meted out to the owners of small businesses terrified about National Insurance contributions.”
A fired-up Mr Burghart added that Labour will be secretly plotting to “come back for more” inheritance raids.
He blasted: “Everyone here and all the farmers at home will have heard there was no guarantee there.
“We know what that means: They are coming back for more.”
The Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary told Ms Rayner that distraught farmers including “elderly men and children” have been “in tears” over the levy.
He asked the Deputy PM: “What would the right honourable lady like to say to them?”
Hitting back, Ms Rayner responded: “We are absolutely committed to our British farmers and that is why we have committed £5 billion to the farming budget over the next two years.”