Kemi Badenoch attacks ‘cruel family farms tax’ in PMQs debut

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Kemi Badenoch has attacked the Government’s “cruel family farms tax” as she hit out at the inheritance tax Budget measures in her first Prime Minister’s Questions as Conservative leader. Mrs Badenoch claimed that her party would reverse the changes to inheritance tax announced last week, and asked for the Government to “reassure” farmers who are worried about the move. Her official spokesman later said that “If you look at the full context, she was referring to the fact that Labour have not set out their plans to get to 2.5% and indeed it’s not just her saying that, the OBR have said significant spending ambitions on defence remain unfunded.” The Prime Minister’s press secretary had suggested that Mrs Badenoch had been “risking misleading” the House, which Mrs Badenoch’s spokesman did not agree with. Sir Keir told Mrs Badenoch that “the one thing I learned as leader of the opposition is it’s a good idea to listen to what the Government is actually saying.” The exchanges on the Budget came after both Sir Keir and Mrs Badenoch had congratulated US President-elect Donald Trump on his victory, and she took the opportunity to press the Prime Minister on his relationship with the incoming American leader.