Despite winning a swathe of rural seats, the government’s budget has caused a rupture with the farming community, who have vowed to ‘fight their corner’

It could scarcely be a more idyllic morning on Marcross farm. Autumn sun beams down across the Vale of Glamorgan. While it can blow a gale on the south Wales coast, today is perfectly still and the sky bright blue. After a hiccup with the electricity, milking is well under way. Yet despite the apparent serenity and beauty of the surroundings, the mood among the Evans family, who own and run the farm, is gloomy.

They have battled for years to make the farm viable and invested heavily in technology to make that a reality. They have diversified to help cover costs – they have a caravan park nearby. Like farmers across the country, however, they are now seriously worried that the government’s inheritance changes to farming land could scupper their best-laid plans.