Labour MP Markus Campbell-Savours has been stripped of the party whip after he rebelled against the Government in a crucial Budget vote concerning inheritance tax for farmers. The dramatic move follows his decision to vote against his own party on Tuesday night, citing a promise he made to his rural constituents.
A Vote of Conscience for Penrith and Solway
The MP for Penrith and Solway was among a group of Labour backbenchers who pleaded with ministers to reconsider plans to impose inheritance tax on agricultural assets. During the Commons debate on the Budget, Campbell-Savours argued the changes would have a devastating impact on family farms across his community and the country.
He told fellow MPs: "There remain deep concerns about the proposed changes to agricultural property relief (APR). Members across the House have made the case against these changes, changes which leave many, not least elderly farmers, yet to make arrangements to transfer assets, devastated at the impact on their family farms."
Breaking a Promise to Constituents
Campbell-Savours revealed that during the election campaign, he and other Labour candidates had reassured farmers based on public commitments from the party's then-shadow Defra secretary that APR would not be altered. He stated he could not walk around his community knowing he had broken his word to them, which compelled him to vote against the Budget resolution enabling the tax changes.
His rebellion was not enough to stop the measures, but it triggered swift disciplinary action. On Wednesday, Chief Whip Jonathan Reynolds informed him that the whip had been withdrawn, effectively suspending him from the Parliamentary Labour Party.
What the Budget Changes Mean for Farmers
The Chancellor's Budget confirmed the introduction of a 20% inheritance tax rate on agricultural land and businesses valued over £1 million. A key provision allows any unused portion of a £1 million APR and business property relief allowance to be transferred between spouses or civil partners.
Despite this concession, the farming community has remained fiercely opposed, having lobbied against the proposals since they were first floated last year. Protests were held in Westminster, with farmers arguing the policy threatens the viability of intergenerational farming.
Not the Only Rebel Voice
Campbell-Savours was not alone in challenging the Government. Chris Hinchliff, the MP for North East Hertfordshire, also questioned the plans. Hinchliff has prior experience of losing the whip, having been previously suspended for rebelling over welfare cuts.
This incident highlights the ongoing tension within the Labour Party between maintaining strict parliamentary discipline and allowing MPs to represent the specific, often acute, concerns of their constituencies, particularly in rural and farming areas.
