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FARMERS are getting a hard time from ministers because they do not vote Labour, it was suggested yesterday.

The inheritance tax row turned nasty as insiders aimed swipes at the 20,000 who protested this week in Westminster.

Ministers are said to have hurled muck at farmers over the tractor tax because they do not vote Labour
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Ministers are said to have hurled muck at farmers over the tractor tax because they do not vote LabourCredit: PA
Downing Street yesterday distanced Sir Keir Starmer from the sniping, stressing the PM’s respect for farmers
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Downing Street yesterday distanced Sir Keir Starmer from the sniping, stressing the PM’s respect for farmersCredit: Getty
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch came out to show her support for farmers
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Tory leader Kemi Badenoch came out to show her support for farmersCredit: Getty

In anonymous briefings, one Labour MP told a journalist: “These people don’t vote for us anyway.” Another made a dig about farmers bringing “photogenic” toddlers on tractors to Tuesday’s demo.

Downing Street yesterday distanced Sir Keir Starmer from the sniping, stressing the PM’s respect for the industry.

But deputy leader Angela Rayner accused critics of scaremongering over how many farms would be hit by the 20 per cent levy on holdings valued above £1million.

Standing in for Sir Keir at Prime Minister’s Questions, she insisted: “Our plan is sensible, fair and proportionate and protects the smaller estates while fixing public services that they rely on.”

READ MORE ON FARM PROTESTS

But Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Alex Burghart, standing in for Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, reckoned: “The truth is that this is a punishment meted out to people who don’t vote Labour.

“It is the same meted out to parents who send their children to private schools.

“It is the same meted out to the owners of small businesses terrified about National Insurance contributions.

Meanwhile the Lib Dems, whose leader Sir Ed Davey backed the demo, are accused of plotting a similar tax raid.

Documents from 2013 show they proposed changing inheritance levies on income and land to ensure “everyone pays their fair share”.

Watch Jeremy Clarkson scold Victoria Derbyshire for 'biased questions' at farmers protest over Labour's 'tractor tax'

But the party insisted yesterday: “This is utter nonsense — we are opposed to the family farm tax and always have been.”

Farmers are concerned the changes to inheritance tax will spell the end of many family farms
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Farmers are concerned the changes to inheritance tax will spell the end of many family farmsCredit: Getty
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