‘Kind-hearted’ farmer took his own life in fear of £2million inheritance tax raid, son claims
A FARMER took his own life over fears of a crushing inheritance tax hike in the Budget, his son said.
John Charlesworth, 78, was tragically found dead on his 70-acre farm on Tuesday - just hours before Rachel Reeves unveiled huge hikes.
His son, Jonathan, 46, said his dad had been left frightened to death by the doom-mongering in the days before.
He was devastated at the thought his relatives might lose his £2million estate, which had been in the family since 1957.
In her Budget, the Chancellor announced dramatic plans to charge 20 per cent inheritance tax on agricultural estates worth over £1million.
Jonathan said it was 'the final straw' for his dad, who had been caring for his sick wife on their farm in Barnsley, South Yorks.
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In a message to Ms Reeves and Keir Starmer, he said: "I would tell them they've killed my Dad.
"He didn't know the details but all the scaremongering around it beforehand frightened him to death.
"He was the most kindhearted person you'd ever meet, my Dad.
"He wouldn't take any nonsense.
"He would do anything for anybody, I don't think anyone had a bad word to say about my Dad.
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"You couldn't ask for better really."
Jonathan first revealed the tragic news of his father's death in an anonymous post on the British Farming Forum.
He wrote in the post: 'This morning I found my dad in the barn having taken his own life.
"So afraid of the inheritance tax implications on farms he took his own life rather than see the government take half the farm.
"As a family, we are devastated and in shock!
"This is the human cost of government policy or potential government policy.
"They claim to be for the working man, no man worked harder than dad.
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"He increased the acreage from my grandad's day and was proud of what he achieved."
In the post, Jonathan also claimed they believed their father planned to 'beat the Budget by ending his life'
Tom Bradshaw, President of the National Farmers' Union (NFU), said he had never seen farmers so angry.
The Government expects the new tax rules to raise an extra half a billion pounds by 2028/9.
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The Treasury says just 27 per cent of farms will be affected, but the NFU says the true figure, based on analysis of DEFRA figures, is 66 per cent.
Under plans announced at the Budget, inheritance tax will be charged at 20 per cent on farms worth more than £1 million
