The Bishop of Norwich brought stories of Norfolk farmers to national attention when he spoke today in a House of Lords debate about the impact of the budget on the future of small farms and rural communities.
He called on the Government to raise the threshold on Agricultural Property Relief and change rules around tax-free gifts made within seven years of death – so that farmers have an opportunity to prepare for any changes.
“This seems both eminently sensible and compassionate,” said Bishop Graham. “Our farming families feed our nation. They provide nature benefits. They contribute to the warp and weft of community life. We need them. We owe them a fair system.”
He told the Lords that the proposals were causing huge stress in the farming community, saying: “I have been made aware of a particularly tragic circumstance in south Norfolk where, due to a terminal cancer diagnosis, if the farmer survives after 5 April 2026, the policy change will have a huge impact on his family’s fortunes. What pressure that puts him and his family under, almost wishing him away sooner, because then the farm will be safe.”
Noting that the proposals were affecting wellbeing and mental health he said: “The suicide rate among male farmers is three times the national average. Thank goodness at a time like this, with added worries and pressures, we have organisations like Farming Community Network, and the excellent charity YANA in Norfolk, ready to provide a listening ear and practical advice.”
And Bishop Graham, who is the Church of England’s lead bishop for the environment, said there were wider implications.
“If small farms have to be broken up, or are no longer are viable, then there is a major risk of multi-nationals buying up family farms. That is likely to negatively impact the 30 by 30 biodiversity target as research shows that smaller farms tend to have higher biodiversity.
“A second impact, which I’m sure that the Government will be concerned about is around community cohesion. Farming families have played – and continue to play – important roles as community leaders, volunteering in their neighbourhoods, as local councillors, churchwardens, running agricultural and county shows. Fewer farms, fewer people.”
The debate was introduced by the Earl of Leicester, of Holkham Hall on the north Norfolk coast.