Donald Trump’s agriculture secretary has slammed Rachel Reeves’s decision to heap inheritance tax on farmers as a “problem”. Brooke Rollins warned “food security is national security” while in London on Tuesday.

When asked if she was concerned about the potential plight of family farms in the UK from increased taxes, she said: “It’s a problem, 100%”. The politician added: “I think anywhere you’re increasing the cost of your input, the cost of taxes, increasing the cost of the land, you’re going to start closing your farms.

“You will begin to outsource to America. We would love to outsource, we’re such great partners.

“But there are other partners in the world that maybe aren’t the best partners that we have got to be hyper-focused on.”

The Chancellor said that from April 2026, combined agricultural and business property assets up to £1 million will still receive 100% relief but anything above that will be taxed at an effective rate of 20%.

Asset rich farmers who are cash poor fear they will have to sell off their land - making it unviable for food production - to foot the tax bill.

The Daily Express's Save Britain's Family Farms crusade has demanded a U-turn. Ms Rollins indicated she has little interest in undercutting British farmers and even urged the prime minister to offer them more support.

Speaking to GB News, Ms Rollins said: “Not fully understanding the dynamics here in the UK, my suggestion is putting your farmers first and ensuring they’re the backbone of your country.

“Whether it’s America, UK, Canada, EU or Mexico, you cannot have true national security without food security.”

The US and UK announced a trade deal on Thursday which will see more beef imported into the UK than previously. The Government insisted hormone-treated beef and chlorinated chicken will remain illegal in a bid to ensure the country’s high animal food standards.

A Government spokeswoman said: “Our commitment to farmers remains steadfast.

“This Government will invest £5 billion into farming over the next two years, the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history. We are going further with reforms to boost profits for farmers by backing British produce and reforming planning rules on farms to support food production.

“Our reform to Agricultural and Business Property Reliefs will mean farmers will pay a reduced inheritance tax rate of 20%, rather than the standard 40% for other businesses, and payments can be spread over 10 years, interest-free. This is a fair and balanced approach, which fixes the public services we all rely on, affecting around 500 estates a year.”