Steve Reed says Conservatives ‘weaponising’ tragedy over farmer suicide questions

The environment secretary has accused the opposition of trying to “weaponise” tragedy after his Conservative shadow claimed farmers are taking their lives because of Labour’s inheritance tax policy.

Victoria Atkins, the shadow environment secretary, suggested the minister should resign on “principle” over the suicides.

She said: “Before Christmas, I warned the secretary of state that a farmer had taken their own life because they were so worried about the family farm tax…

“This week I have received the devastating news that several more farmers have taken their own lives because of the family farm tax.”

Atkins asked: “Will he set out these tragedies to the prime minister, demand that Labour policy is changed or offer, on a point of principle, his resignation?”

Steve Reed responded: “I express my regrets that the shadow secretary of state would seek to politicise personal tragedy in this way.

“I think it’s immensely, immensely regrettable that she would seek to do that… I think it’s beneath her, actually, to try to weaponise it in the way that she has done.”

He added: “This government takes the issues of mental health very, very seriously indeed.

“That is why we are setting up mental health hubs in every community so that we can support farmers and others who are suffering from mental health, which I would again gently remind her [was] a problem that escalated during her time in office as health secretary.”

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