CPA Member Update on Business Property Relief - Your Chance to Write to the Prime Minister

Dear Member, 
 
I would like to take this opportunity to update you on a crucial piece of work the CPA has been involved in since the Budget delivered at the end of October.
 
We know that lots of you are concerned about the impact the proposals around inheritance tax and Business Property Relief (BPR) will have for family businesses. Many of you have reached out directly to us, asking for guidance and support.
 
In Prime Minister’s Questions this week, the Prime Minister asked for examples directly from family businesses, on how the changes will impact them. We would therefore urge all members affected by this change, to take this opportunity to write directly to the Prime Minister, showing how the government’s plans are going to impact on investment decisions, planning for the future, hiring people, and the long-term viability of the business.
 
Below is a letter put together by Family Business UK that you can use as a template for writing to the Prime Minister and his team. Please do adapt the letter as you see fit.
 
We would also recommend you CC in your constituency MP. You can find your local MP via this link - Find MPs - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament.
 
To write to the Prime Minister, either through email or post, please use the following:
 
The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
SW1A 2AA
 
Email - keir.starmer.constituency@parliament.uk
 
Only by showing the strength of feeling and sharing anecdotes and case studies with the Prime Minister, can we hope to get some traction and understanding from policymakers, on what will happen should these proposals go through.  
 
Since the Budget, we have started working with a variety of stakeholders and policymakers to showcase the issue and what it means for family run plant-hire businesses. We want to get your voice out there and showcase what family run businesses mean, why they matter, and what is at stake.
 
We have worked with Family Business UK in sending out their survey to members, looking at the economic impact the changes are likely to have. I know many of you completed this survey. The results of this have been published this week and can be accessed below. Already it has garnered interest in the national press and we hope to amplify this further in 2025.
 
Through the CBI’s Tax Committee, I met with James Murray MP, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury where I outlined members’ concerns and, with our recently published report on the economic contribution of plant-hire to the UK economy, showed what is at stake should the changes come into effect. We also met with representatives of the NFU to look at some areas of mutual collaboration.
 
Our Policy Manager Chris Cassley has met with Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the House of Commons Business and Trade Select Committee, and Matt Western MP, Vice Chair of the Committee, where he presented our policy briefing on BPR. He has written to each member of the Committee and the Treasury Select Committee, introducing our briefing and showing why at the very least, we need a full consultation on the changes to fully understand the economic impact changing BPR will have for family plant-hire firms. The policy briefing is below for your reference.
 
Our message to government is simple. Without family businesses, the future viability and competitiveness of the UK plant-hire industry is at risk. What should be a story of resilience, entrepreneurship and success, in every region of the UK, will be lost. Without our family businesses, the government will not be able to complete the 150 infrastructure projects they have proposed. The plans to build 1.5m new homes in England will remain just that - plans. Only investment in businesses will achieve the lasting, sustainable growth we all want to see.

Click here for template letter to Keir Starmer

Click here for FBUK CBI Economic Budget BPR Report

Click here for CPA Policy Briefing - BPR

Steve Mulholland
CPA Chief Executive Officer