North West Norfolk MP James Wild digs deeper into evolving landscape of family farming at Leicester House Farm in Great Massingham

An MP’s visit to a family-run farm saw him discuss yet more fears about government tax hike plans.

James Wild visited Leicester House Farm in Great Massingham to meet owner Lex Brun and his team to gain insight into the challenges amid today’s evolving agricultural landscape.

The North West Norfolk MP was welcomed by Lex, whose family has worked the land in West Norfolk for three generations since the Second World War.

Together they toured the farm and discussed how it balances arable and livestock work to meet shifting market demands and environmental challenges.

On one field, more than 1,000 sheep grazed on stubble turnips and radishes – a practice historically traditional in Norfolk, but one that has only recently been reintroduced on the farm thanks to the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme.

It is a practice that maintains soil health while also producing locally sourced meat sold across England and Wales.

As they continued the tour, Lex highlighted how the farm had adapted over time with repurposed piggery buildings now serving as grain stores.

Mr Wild arrived in time to talk to two employees who had just finished ploughing a field.

Together, they have a combined time on the farm of more than 80 years and explained the family farm’s longstanding roots within the local community, and the techniques they had been using to work the fields over the years.

Lex also shared how Norfolk’s distinctive sandy soil is particularly suited for keeping outdoor pigs and growing malting barley, animal feed and biscuit wheat, as opposed to more traditional bread milling wheat.

He then pointed out the 11 miles of hedgerows surrounding his fields which have recently been trimmed and are an important feature that enhances biodiversity while helping crop yields by protecting against soil erosion.

Throughout the visit, the conversation considered the proposed ‘family farm tax’ – set to take effect in April 2026.

The planned changes, which cap inheritance tax relief at £1million and impose a 20% tax rate above that threshold, is expected to place huge financial pressures on family-run farms, where land and assets are passed down through generations.

Lex’s said: “This sudden change in policy is yet another punch below the belt for our industry that is already having a crisis in confidence.

“Loss of confidence equals reduced investment which results in lack of growth, which flies in the face of this government's own hopes for the farming and environmental sector.

“It is a very complex debate with many potential implications but ultimately, because of the disproportionately high asset value of farmland and machinery, every farm business will now be living under a ‘Sword of Damocles’.

“This will threaten the viability of their enterprise should certain individuals die, especially so if this happens unexpectedly out of generational order.

“This policy will destabilise the whole rural model of our British farming industry and countryside, which has always relied on farmer's multigenerational perspective to steward the land and landscape to their best ability whilst providing jobs and security for the rural community.”

Having recently voted against the measure in Parliament and attended several rallies in London, Mr Wild listened carefully to the concerns and discussed how he could best use his position to support them.

He said: “Leicester House Farm is a prime example of how family-run farms are adapting to modern challenges while preserving traditional practices.

“Lex and his team highlighted the need for more informed policies and underscored the complex, nuanced nature of the challenges they face.

“I thank Lex for his time and I will continue to advocate in Parliament and locally for policies that protect family-run farms, which have long been at the heart of our rural communities.”