Elon Musk Accuses Britain of ‘Full Stalin’ Over Tax Policy on Farmers

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Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and owner of X (formerly Twitter), has sparked fresh controversy with his criticism of Britain’s proposed tax policy targeting farmers. Responding to an article in *The Observer*, Musk claimed the UK was going “full Stalin” over Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to revoke inheritance tax exemptions for certain agricultural assets.  

 

 

The article, written by former *Observer* editor Will Hutton, argued that Labour’s policy would revitalize rural communities. Hutton suggested that lowering farmland prices by removing tax exemptions could enable younger generations to acquire land. In a pointed response on X, Musk drew a parallel between this policy and the Soviet collectivization of the 1930s under Joseph Stalin, a campaign that forcibly redistributed farmland and led to widespread hardship and famine.  

 

 

The proposed policy, announced in October’s budget by Labour’s Rachel Reeves, seeks to end inheritance tax exemptions on agricultural assets valued over £1 million. Farmers’ unions, however, have condemned the plan. The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has labeled it “disastrous,” expressing fears that it could decimate family farms. Many farmers are planning a mass demonstration in London to demand that the Government reconsider.  

 

 

Farmers argue that the policy could have far-reaching consequences, with the NFU accusing Reeves of using misleading data. The union claims that the Treasury has underestimated the number of farms affected, suggesting the actual figure is double the official estimate.  

 

Musk, known for his outspoken nature and political commentary, had previously criticized the policy, saying: “We should leave our farmers alone. We [owe] farmers immense gratitude for making the food on our tables!” This latest remark adds to his history of high-profile interventions on global political issues.  

 

Downing Street has refrained from directly addressing Musk’s critique. A spokesperson stated: “We’re not going to get into a back and forth on individual comments. We will continue to engage with the industry and explain how the process works, and it remains the case that we expect the vast majority of farmers to be unaffected by the changes.” The spokesperson also emphasized the Prime Minister’s ongoing support for farmers, reiterating their importance to the nation and promising efforts to provide reassurance about the policy’s impact.  

 

As tensions escalate, thousands of farmers are poised to take their concerns directly to MPs, highlighting the growing unease over policies that they fear could undermine Britain’s agricultural backbone. Musk’s dramatic intervention adds another layer of complexity to the debate, amplifying global attention on a policy that has already divided public opinion.  

 

Jonathan Charlesworth, the son of a farmer who took his own life, believes that the new inheritance tax policy announced by the government pushed him over the edge and caused him to take his own life.

 

Based on a report by Daily Telegraph & Sky News 2024-11-20