The MD of JW Lees Brewery has said changes to the Business Property Relief system amount to a shakedown of family-owned businesses, arguing that a change in government alone can act as a life-preserver. Ouch.

The managing director of one of the UK’s most prominent family-run breweries has said that the only hope for growth for small-to-medium sized British business is to hold out until the current government is voted out of office. 

William Lees-Jones of JW Lees Brewery took to LinkedIn this week to lament the planned changes to Business Property Relief (BPR), labelling them a “family business tax grab.” 

“People will notice as family businesses start to disappear when these new taxes come in,” he said.” 

Under Labour’s proposed new regimen, all family businesses will enjoy 100 per cent BPR up until a valuation of £1m, after which point 20 per cent inheritance tax will be incurred (after application of 50 per cent BPR) when passing a business on to the next generation.

Lees-Jones argued that the new policy, slated to come into effect next April, was merely a cynical ploy on the part of the chancellor to shore up a £50bn gap in the benefit system and in boosting doctors’ salaries.

“I keep speaking to family businesses, mostly mature multi-generational family businesses, and everyone is saying the same thing…that the government do not understand how family business works,” he added. “The number one goal for all family business owners now is to stay alive for the 40 months, and to ensure that all political parties have it in their 2029 manifestos to abolish all inheritance taxes.”

End of the dynasty

William Lees-Jones said… “The number one goal for all family business owners now is to stay alive for the 40 months, and to ensure that all political parties have it in their 2029 manifestos to abolish all inheritance taxes…