Bishop Martin Seeley praises farmers facing inheritance tax concerns as he prepares to retire.
He retires at the end of the month, having already held his final mass as bishop. He will step down as Suffolk Show president at the SAA meeting on February 25.
He praises organizers in his SAA message, expressing awe at their dedication and hard work. His year as president was “fabulous”. He supported farmers during budget challenges and advocated for them in different situations.
He finds “misunderstanding” about farming astonishing, both in politics and among the public. He spoke about farmers earlier this week and retires from the House of Lords next week, after serving for three years.
He said many wrongly assume farmers are wealthy, believing expensive equipment equals success. He said family farmers often live paycheck to paycheck; inheritance tax changes are devastating for them.
A meeting with ministers showed no shift, further demonstrating that the government fails to grasp real farming challenges. This hurts farmers’ mental and financial health, and impacts the future of farming here.
He feels frustrated about the lack of understanding, having hoped for progress from the meeting. However, the NFU reported no positive outcome at all.
He spoke for farmers in the House of Lords, hoping to influence decision-makers. He admitted his advocacy has not worked so far, though.
John Taylor, the show director, called him “generous,” describing his SAA involvement as “superb.” Taylor said the bishop personally provided great support.
He makes others “feel really good” and makes people smile, Taylor stated. “We had a lot of fun,” he added.
Phillip Ainsworth, SAA chief executive, added that Bishop Seeley is an “enthusiast” who showed passion in every SAA activity.