One of the most upsetting moments of the last few months since Labour came to power – and there have been many – was watching Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers Union, break down in tears as he spoke about the devastating impact the government’s insane inheritance tax proposals would have on thousands of Britain’s family farms.
Bradshaw was giving evidence at the House of Commons Environment Committee after the Chancellor’s decision in her disastrous Budget to levy a 20 per cent tax on agricultural assets worth more than £1 million.
This was last December but the sight of Bradshaw struggling to speak has stayed with me ever since. His testimony was not the usual whining or moaning you usually get when vested interests are threatened. This was visceral and heart-breaking to watch. Even hardened committee members were silent.