Fighting for members' rights on inheritance tax: the CLA lobbying timeline

CLA Director of Policy and Advice gives evidence to the House of Lords Finance Bill Sub-Committee on the impact of the changes to members. This included highlighting the difficulties that many inheritors will have in paying the tax due to issues around probate and capital gains tax.

The CLA meet with new Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle to discuss the future of SFI, Countryside Stewardship and inheritance tax.

A CLA member survey shows impact of proposed changes to inheritance tax, with more than 60% of respondents having considered selling their farm and leaving the industry.

In the survey, not a single respondent said that they would vote for Labour, achieving national press and several mentions in parliament.

The CLA writes to either the President or Chair of all English and Welsh Chamber of Commerces to highlight the damage the changes will have on their local areas.

Using constituency figures from the survey conducted by CBI Economics, the CLA writes to more than 100 Labour MPs who have remained silent on the IHT issue, highlighting the real-word impact on jobs and the local economy in their area.

The CLA meet with Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner to discuss IHT and the recent spending review.

CBI Economics release its full modelling on the impact of the changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) - a study that was jointly-commissioned and backed by the CLA. The results show that proposals will cost 209,000 jobs and £1.9bn to the exchequer.

CLA leads on a letter to the Chancellor from a selection of trade bodies calling for increased transparency in their modelling and data around alternatives to the current proposals.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee also releases a report echoing the CLA's calls for government to consult on the measure and asking the government to assess alternative options including the 'clawback'.

A CLA commissioned piece of work by CBI economics, in collaboration with other trade bodies, reveals that the changes to APR and BPR will cost the UK economy £14.5bn, lose the Exchequer £1.9bn and result in a loss of over 200,000 jobs by 2030.

In response to a written parliamentary question laid by an ally of the CLA, Exchequer Secretary James Murray claims the 'clawback' mechanism would raise "much less" revenue that the current proposals. We follow this up with a series of written questions and freedom of information requests, in order to get the government to release their modelling proving this claim.

CLA Deputy President Gavin Lane attends a roundtable with the shadow Defra team to discuss opportunities on how to work together to oppose the tax changes.

CLA Deputy President Gavin Lane speaks at Save British Farming rally as thousands of tractors shut down Westminster. The CLA's work and modelling is also highlighted in a Parliamentary debate on reversing the proposed IHT changes.

CLA policy experts answered questions at a parliamentary drop-in at Westminster to help MPs better understand and deliver growth for the countryside.

Ahead of the Oxford Farming Conference, the CLA sends out a joint letter alongside other farming bodies to Defra Secretary Steve Reed asking for a consultation on the budget changes.

Alongside 31 other trade and membership organisations, including Family Business UK, the CLA signs a letter to the government warning of the severe and long-lasting impact of changes to BPR and APR.

CLA President Victoria Vyvyan gives evidence to the EFRA Committee, taking questions from MPs on APR and BPR and the impact the capping of these reliefs will have on farm profitability and the wider rural economy.

A joint letter is also published, signed by the CLA and other organisations on behalf of the farming industry to the PM, urging the government to rethink its inheritance tax changes.

CLA polling, modelling and policy positions are brought up in the opposition day debate in the House of Commons. In two debates, the government commits to continue to engage with us around farming and inheritance tax.

The CLA's work on the impact changes to IHT will have on food production is highlighted in a House of Lords debate on food security.

We wrote a letter to the Chancellor highlighting our members' frustration over the decisions regarding APR and BPR and call for a meeting to discuss the policies we have to develop and support the rural economy.

Victoria Vyvyan and CLA Director of External Affairs Jonathan Roberts meet with Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins.

CLA President Victoria Vyvyan and Director of Policy & Advice Judicaelle Hammond met Defra Secretary Steve Reed. The CLA's work is also highlighted during Defra oral questions in the House of Commons.

Letters are sent to rural MPs from the CLA's rural family businesses campaign. The CLA's arguments are highlighted during a general debate on rural affairs in the House of Commons.

CLA Cymru Director Victoria Bond and Chair of Polisi Cymru Iain Hill-Trevor met with Secretary of State Wales Jo Stevens and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Dame Nia Griffiths to explain the major concerns members in Wales had and the consequences of the announcement.

Following a series of transformative Autumn Budget announcements, the CLA launches its 'save rural family businesses' campaign. We brief MPs and the government on the impact that proposed inheritance tax reforms will have on rural communities.