'Why do we do it? This is the best job in the world.'
After this week's farmers' protest in London, Rob Lyons talks to two Cumbrian farmers about the inheritance-tax furore and why, despite the many difficulties, they love what they do.
On Monday 10 February, farmers congregated in London to protest against the government - particularly plans to charge inheritance tax on farms. In advance of a debate in the House of Commons, hundreds of tractors blocked Whitehall.
The following day, Rob Lyons talked to two Cumbrian farmers, John Shaw and Richard Kerr, along with their accountant Paul Benson, about the state of farming in the UK today, including:
Why farmers are so angry about the Labour government's inheritance tax changes
The existing difficulties with making a good living from farming, particularly the power of supermarkets
Why it is unfair to blame sheep and cattle farmers for climate change
The failure of many politicians to understand why a farm is more than just a business
Why, despite all the difficulties, they continue to want to farm - if the government will let them.
Listen to the podcast by clicking on the image below.
‘They’re going to destroy farming’
At the protest, Claire Fox was interviewed by Alan Miller of #Together. She noted how the political class were failing to listen to farmers and were clueless about how the countryside is a place of work, not just a holiday destination. Watch the full clip here: