Gwyn Jones Farm Diary: Things cannot carry on as they are

We never learn from history, and it repeats itself without fail, and I see a 2026 version of the 1970’s all over again and whilst I wish it was not so, it is all there for all to see. The country needs a thorough shake-up, and it will come,

The one problem with writing articles in advance, a week or two before Christmas and New Year, is that events during that period can take you by surprise. I had one such ‘event’ this Christmas, when the government suddenly announced the big U-turn on inheritance tax. They had corrected the first anomaly at the recent budget, when they allowed transfer between husband and wife. I thought that was it, and all the statements which followed held firm, and of course the Treasury was not for turning (to coin a phrase), and it rules these days with a rod of steel.

I was therefore amazed when it was announced that the Inheritance tax will now be increased from £1 million to £2.5 million (£5 million in effect for a farming couple). I wrote an email to Tom Bradshaw at the NFU to congratulate him and to tell him that I would be having a large slice of humble pie for my Christmas lunch. I think he enjoyed that and did write back to say he hoped it tasted good. He must take the credit for this, as he put everything on the line including his re-election in February should it not have gone his way.

Tom was also gracious in victory, telling everyone that this U-turn was not to be used to beat the government with, it was a correct decision taken and a legitimate change of policy. This change of policy could only have come from the Prime Minister, the only person who could overrule the Chancellor and Treasury. The two big questions are, why did they do it and more importantly, why did they not include it in the recent budget?

The answer is that despite all the pressure and protests, it was the Labour Party’s own back-benchers who forced the issue in the end. For the first time in a very long time, Labour won many countryside seats at the last election and these MP’s could see their jobs being sacrificed by Rachel Reeves and the Treasury. We know that the Treasury has tried to persuade previous administrations to introduce inheritance tax on farmers and they all refused. Rachel Reeves and her team did not and this overrule has damaged her yet again.

There was more good news more or less at the same time, and that was the new Animal Health and Welfare improvements the government has been working on for some time. Most farmers and the NFU agree with improving animal welfare, the only caveat being that as we continue to do so, imports produced to different standards should not be allowed. If they are, they undermine all the work we are doing in this country, as higher standards cost money and they need protection.

It is also very important that the supply chain plays its part in making sure that higher welfare does not increase the cost of food unnecessarily. They must not increase their margins on the back of higher welfare. Farmers will benefit too as higher welfare and better health means fewer problems and less work, medicine bills and wastage. Healthy stock need fewer replacements and have a lower carbon footprint because of that and most importantly less cost for the business. Good health and welfare is therefore profitable.

Unfortunately, the government went and spoilt all this good news at the end of 2025, by throwing in a ban on trail hunting as part of the welfare measures. This was a spectacular own goal yet again, and whilst it was in the manifesto, you would think that there are many more things which merit governments and parliament’s time than this? This is seen as another attack on the countryside by an urban thinking party, not only an attack on freedom, but on tradition and countryside ways.

This government does not seem to learn from mistakes it made in the past, Tony Blair caved in to the left and banned hunting. He later admitted in his biography that it had been a mistake, and that the amount of political capital expended getting it done was certainly not worth it. Having succeeded in banning hunting, this government has now banned trail hunting, as a fox may be in the wrong place at the wrong time and be caught.

The truth is that the left just hate a tradition which they see as a throwback to colonial times, with Masters, huntsman and whip in red coats on their high horse, lording it above everyone else. The red coats (hunting pink after Thomas Pinque the tailor) associated with the army colours of old and of course the cavalry. The same reasons of being able to spot riders in the landscape holds true now as then. The irony is that the people that hunt nowadays are more likely to be working people from all walks of life, and not the landed gentry.

Then of course there are the jobs, the hounds, farmers fallen stock services where the kennels provide an important service. What happens to all that? Pubs benefit from the trade where the hunts meet and hunt supporters drink. I went down to Kirdford to support the Boxing day meet and expected to see around 150 people as usual, and was astonished that around 750 people had turned up outside the Half Moon pub and restaurant.

Many were there to support as they were against a ban on trail hunting, although like me, have never hunted or followed the hunt in their lives. This has hit another nerve with country folk and I’m afraid that the Labour Party needs a miracle to hold on to any countryside seats after this. And for what? What will this do that is positive for the government or the country for that matter? The left will move seamlessly on to the next demand until someone stands up to them.

Just before Christmas, we lost Stuart Harrison, a dairy farmer for many years at Ashington. Stuart was his own man, did things his own way and never took himself or life too seriously. At 91 he had a long life and judging by the huge turnout at his funeral, had lived each one to the full and had touched many people’s lives. He was an active member of his community for many years and is fondly remembered by many.

Stuart ran a spring calving herd of dairy cows at Ashington very much like the New Zealand system, indeed many years ago he swapped farms with a New Zealand friend of his for several months where they ran each other’s farms. I remember judging a grassland management competition with Stuart at the Isle of Wight, an entertaining and enjoyable time. He was a prominent member of West Sussex Grassland Society and also involved in the NFU at many levels. He was always good company and quick to lighten any typical farmer conversation of doom and gloom.