The prime minister faced a grilling about the government’s changes to inheritance tax (IHT) with MP Cat Smith saying farmers ‘feel like they were misled over the changes to IHT and agricultural property relief’.

Starmer said: ‘I do understand the concern. I met with the president of the National Farmers Union (NFU) just last week to run through the particular concerns they have. I do think on agricultural property relief that there had to be sensible reform’.

Smith then asked the PM if he was aware that some farmers who have terminal diagnoses are planning to ‘expedite their own deaths’, before the IHT changes come into place in April 2026.

Starmer acknowledged this, saying: ‘I have had discussions with a number of individuals who have drawn all manner of things to my attention.’

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