On 4 November in the Budget debate on implications for farming communities, Mr Zeichner said: “Sadly, [the inheritance tax exempion on farms] has been used in some cases by wealthy landowners to avoid inheritance tax. That is why the government have announced plans to reform agricultural property relief.”
But grilled by environment, food and rural affairs committee chairman Alistair Carmichael on liaison committee, Sir Keir admitted this justification given to MPs and others was not true.
Mr Carmichael asked: “Who were the targets for these changes? Was it the super rich sheltering wealth? Was it the family farmers? Or was it both?”
Starmer replied: “The purpose was to raise revenue in the budget. It wasn’t aimed at a particular group of individuals. We inherited a really bad situation and we decided we couldn’t hit the pay packets of working people.