Andy Burnham has appointed Angela Eagle as his new DEFRA Secretary, despite her having backed the controversial family farm tax five times under Sir Keir Starmer. The decision has provoked outrage among farmers and rural campaigners, who accuse the Prime Minister of ignoring the countryside.
Angela Eagle's record under fire
Angela Eagle, whose Wallasey constituency is not rural, defended the inheritance tax raid on farms in previous votes. Top Tory Victoria Atkins MP said the appointment proved Labour had lurched further left under Burnham. She fumed: "This latest version of a Labour government is just a more left-wing version of the old tax-hiking Starmer government."
Ms Atkins added that Burnham "has appointed an urban MP, Angela Eagle, as Defra Secretary who defended these vindictive taxes vigorously under Keir Starmer, voting for them FIVE times." She said the Tories would "axe the Family Farm and Business Taxes when we're back in government."
Farmers react with dismay
Farmers have not welcomed the appointment. Charles Goadby told the Daily Express: "I'm not sure how much of a clue she's got." The 48-year-old said he had "a bit of a relief" that Ms Eagle was not entirely inexperienced, but still had worries. "It is a big concern that this is someone who was completely backing the inheritance tax," he said.
Mr Goadby added that farmers across the country are "making losses across the board" and don't have "much hope about Andy Burnham being any different." Fellow farmer Patrick Barker branded "the entire inheritance tax idea" as "ill thought through and ridiculously unaffordable." He explained: "Farms like us which are around 1000 acres would never have been able to pay it, especially at the time when a family is going through its worst possible moment. It's like saying to a taxi driver 'you need to sell your taxi to pay your taxes'."
Rural campaigners speak out
Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs at the Countryside Alliance, said the family farm tax was "one of Starmer's biggest political mistakes." He noted the policy triggered the biggest rural protests in Westminster since Tony Blair's row with the countryside over hunting in the early 2000s. He warned rural Britain was still reeling, with pubs and farms hit by soaring taxes and National Insurance hikes.
Mr Metcalf-Fisher said the countryside wanted to trust Burnham's promise to "bring back hope" but warned trust "is earned through respect and action." His comments come as thousands prepare for the Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show this week, marking its 138th anniversary. He added: "If 'change' turns out to be nothing more than a repeat of past mistakes, rural people will feel sidelined, let down and hurt."
A Defra spokesperson defended the appointment, saying: "This government is putting its full weight behind farmers - giving them the funding, tools and opportunities they need to succeed. Our Farming Roadmap sets the first long-term vision for farming since the Second World War, backed by £11.8 billion of investment, to support a profitable and sustainable sector."
