SIR Ed Davey has been left red faced after cheering on protesting farmers despite the Lib Dems once planning a massive tax raid on agricultural land.
An unearthed document shows that in 2013 the Lib Dems “set out proposals” for how the taxman can ensure “everyone pays their fair share”, including measures to change inheritance levies.
Sir Ed’s party called existing inheritance thresholds “not acceptable” because “it is easy for very wealthy taxpayers to avoid”.
The Lib Dems, then part of David Cameron’s governing coalition, proposed doubling the time in which a farmer can pass down land while they are alive, without being taxed, from 7 to 15 years.
And the party suggested whacking death taxes not just on income but on the likes of farmland too.
Despite his party’s previous position, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for rural affairs Tim Farron this week called Labour’s hated family farm tax “cruel, unfair and also incredibly stupid”.
He called on Rachel Reeves to immediately scrap the changes.
Sir Ed and the Lib Dems were last night accused of exploiting the plight of farmers for “political advantage” and were branded “hypocrites”.
Reform UK MP, Rupert Lowe said: “It should come as no surprise that the hypocritical Liberal Democrats only now support our farmers when it becomes politically advantageous, just as they sold students out before they will do the same to farmers.
“This cruel decision is going to cause untold damage to farming families across the country yet it was the Liberal Democrat’s who now first proposed it.
“Reform’s message is simple, reverse this ill thought out decision and do the right thing.”
