Autumn Budget: Northern Isles MP responds

Responding to the Budget, which includes changes to Agricultural Property Relief and real terms cut to farm budgets in England, Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael said:

“I fear that Treasury does not realise the damage that this change to inheritance tax could do.  As well as cutting deep into the heart of local family-owned farms, it will deal a huge blow to all those small businesses that depend on them: from vets to agricultural merchants to local shops and post offices. The people who most immediately at risk are tenant farmers as their landlords look at ways in which inheritance tax might be avoided. 

“That is without mentioning the concerning decision to cut farm budgets in real terms, which will have knock-on effects across the UK and goes against the government's stated aim of building up our food security. Labour may have inherited a legacy of farm budget mismanagement from the Tories, but it is their decision if they double down on the same mistakes.”

Responding to the Budget more generally, Mr Carmichael said:

“I’m glad that the Chancellor listened to Liberal Democrat calls for more investment in the NHS and in infrastructure. The Scottish Government now have some major choices if they are going to make the most of this extra funding. 

“In the past the SNP have chosen poorly, wasting hundreds of millions on ferries that have not been delivered and tens of millions on a bureaucratic takeover of social care which will probably now never happen. Farmers in particular have the right to expect the farm funds that the SNP raided previously to be returned in full.”

He added:

“While the devil will be in the detail and I will be seeking further assurances, I understand that previously promised funds to the Northern Isles – the Towns Fund for Orkney and Levelling Up Funds for the Fair Isle ferry – have been reconfirmed by the government and will be going ahead. That is good news and should mean there are no further delays to delivering these projects.”