Government must listen and review damaging inheritance tax reforms

Carla Lockhart MP • February 12, 2026

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart is urging the government to listen to the electorate and reconsider its controversial approach to British farming.

Her comments come after farmers returned to Westminster on Wednesday, stepping up their campaign against the government’s pending and deeply damaging reforms to inheritance tax.


The MP said: “The arrival of a convoy of tractors outside the House of Commons was deliberately timed to coincide with Prime Minister’s Questions - a clear and visible message that those in power must pay attention.


“The farmers and protestors weren’t just fighting for their livelihoods, but for the voices of people across the United Kingdom to be heard. Placards reading “No British Farming, No Food” and “Reunite Britain: Our Farmers, Your Food, Everyone’s Future” made it abundantly clear that this is about far more than policy - it is about the future of national food security and the survival of rural communities.”


 “Farmers are angry and bewildered, and rightly so. We’ve witnessed exposure of a mind-blowing surge of scandals, missteps and hard truths deeply rooted within this government. Recent revelations have added to the growing sense that enough is enough. Voters feel ignored, farmers feel betrayed, and the country deserves better,” added the DUP’s Westminster Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs spokesperson.


“Serious questions remain at the heart of the Labour Government. How is it that two of the Prime Minister’s chief advisers have gone, yet he remains? They were his advisers, but he makes the decisions.


“President Harry Truman famously kept a sign on his desk reading, “The buck stops here.” The same principle should apply today. Either Keir Starmer is in control and must take responsibility, or whoever truly is in control should step forward. In either case, his judgement is no longer valued or trusted.”


The MP added: “The pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to resign continues to grow, not only because of the wider chaos surrounding his leadership, but because this government has fundamentally misjudged the strength of feeling around inheritance tax reforms and the impact they will have on British farming and national food security.



“It is evident that the electorate is determined to use its voice and that farmers are not going away. This government must urgently reconsider its approach to inheritance tax and review is anti-farming agenda.”

Share

By Carla Lockhart MP February 13, 2026
DUP Agriculture spokesperson, Carla Lockhart MP, has raised concerns about the lack of financial support for young people in Northern Ireland who are serious about a future in farming.
By Carla Lockhart MP February 12, 2026
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart pledged her support for the Farm Safety Foundation’s Yellow Wellies Mind Your Head campaign, during this week’s parliamentary drop-in event at Westminster.
By Carla Lockhart MP February 11, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart, has praised the talent, creativity and confidence shown by local pupils at the Young Enterprise Big Market Trade Fair, held at Rushmere Shopping Centre . Schools from Banbridge , Lurgan and Portadown were well represented at the event, which showcased a wide range of student-led business ideas and products. 
By Carla Lockhart MP February 11, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart , has welcomed the reopening of Captain Cook’s, describing the revamped Banbridge eatery as a real boost for the local area.
By Carla Lockhart MP February 10, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart, has strongly condemned the decision to approve participation in a UK wide puberty blockers clinical trial involving children, describing the move as a serious failure of safeguarding and child protection.
By Carla Lockhart MP February 9, 2026
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has secured a high-level meeting with senior management from Royal Mail in London to address ongoing and unacceptable postal delays in Banbridge and across the wider Upper Bann constituency, with particular concern around delays to vital correspondence such as hospital appointment letters.
By Carla Lockhart MP February 5, 2026
Confirmation that the High Court has ordered an urgent judicial review into inheritance tax reforms has been welcomed by the DUP’s Agriculture spokesperson, Carla Lockhart MP.
By Carla Lockhart MP February 5, 2026
The DUP’s Westminster Agriculture spokesperson, Carla Lockhart MP, has accused Shared Environment Services (SES) of paralysing Northern Ireland’s planning system.
By Carla Lockhart MP February 4, 2026
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has warned that shocking new figures on cancer treatment in Northern Ireland expose a health service struggling to deliver timely care and has called for urgent action including free travel support for patients and ring-fenced funding to address chronic delays.
By Carla Lockhart MP February 4, 2026
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has praised the generosity of the local community after attending a retro 1980s fundraising event at Windsor Bakery in support of Luca’s Voice, a charity supporting families navigating speech and communication challenges.