David Chadwick has accused the UK Government of targeting family farms with tax rises during a heated exchange in the House of Commons.

Mr Chadwick, Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, questioned Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray this week over proposed changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief, sometimes referred to as the “family farms tax.”

Mr Chadwick told the Commons he had spoken to young farmers at the Sennybridge Show last weekend, who wanted to know “why are the Government targeting family farms for tax rises rather than going after the big banks, which are closing branches right across my constituency?”

He went on: “Why should young farmers have to pay for the mess left behind by the Conservatives?”

In reply, Mr Murray said he had already met farming representatives, including the National Farmers Union, NFU Cymru, the Tenant Farmers Association and the Farmers Union of Wales.

He said: “After listening, however, the Government continue to believe that the approach we have set out is the right one.

“The hon. Gentleman talks about good causes. I assume he would agree that the NHS is a good cause, that public services are a good cause and that a stable economy that encourages investment in our country is a good cause to pursue.

“As hon. Members have said many times already, the Opposition parties, including the hon. Gentleman’s, are very happy to reap the rewards of spending and investment but are totally incapable of taking any of the difficult decisions to raise the revenue necessary to support them.”

Following the exchange, Mr Chadwick accused the minister of trying to “pit farmers against the NHS and the economy,” describing the response as “despicable.”

He added: “Good quality food is essential for our nation's health, and family farms are the backbone of the rural economy in areas like mine. They not only contribute themselves but also support huge numbers of other industries, like the food and drink sector.

"The Liberal Democrats will continue to stand up for farmers and push Labour to scrap these damaging proposals before lasting harm is done to our communities.”

The Liberal Democrats argue that the policy poses risks not only to the rural economy and food security, but also to the Welsh language, pointing out that 43 per cent of agricultural workers in Wales speak Welsh, a much higher proportion than the general population.