The countryside is abandoning Labour, according to CLA poll
After announcements in the Autumn Budget, two thirds of rural voters state that Labour does not understand or respect the countryside
Labour is losing the countryside, with new polling showing voters rejecting the party and turning to Reform over the Autumn Budget backlash.
A Survation poll of over 1,000 people in England’s 100 most rural seats, commissioned by the CLA, shows the countryside backs farmers. Opposition to the inheritance tax hike stands at 58%, with less than a quarter in support. Even among Labour voters in rural areas, 44% are against, while 37% are in favour.
The polling also exposes the damage the budget has done to Labour in rural communities. Twice as many voters (66%) say Labour doesn’t “understand or respect rural communities,” up from 33% before the election, and more than half of voters (57%) say they trust Labour less.
Nearly a quarter (23%) of Labour voters from July are “unhappy” with their vote. As a result, Labour drops into third place across England’s most rural constituencies, behind the Conservatives (34%) and Reform (21%).
The polling also shows deepening fears over Labour’s rural agenda, with 60% saying it’s already broken its pledge to reverse countryside decline, and 70% doubting its ability to boost the rural economy.
Victoria Vyvyan, CLA President, commented:
“The budget threatens business viability and the future of our rural communities. The government promised growth, and to be the ‘party of the countryside’, but you can’t tax your way to prosperity.
“Trust, once lost, is hard to win back. Can Labour regain it? Only with a sincere apology, real action, and a clear commitment to the rural economy. Anything less, and the damage could be irreversible.
Rural communities aren’t here to be taxed and forgotten. We’re here to drive growth, to feed the nation, and to fuel the economy. All we want is a government that matches our ambition
This comes after CLA economic modelling revealing the devastating impact of inheritance tax on rural businesses.
A 200-acre farm could face a £370,000 bill, wiping out more than 100% of annual profits. Even couples aren’t spared, with a 350-acre farm facing a £475,000 hit, erasing 99% of profits for the next decade.
Since 1992, agricultural property relief has allowed family farms to pass down tax-free. The tax exemption reflected the challenges of farming, which is often unprofitable and relies on family continuity.
From April 2026, this changes. Full relief will only apply to the first £1m of farmland and assets. Above that, inheritance tax will be 20%, paid over 10 years interest-free.