Breaking News: Starmer Abruptly Ditches Farm Tax Plan Amid Shocking U-Turn

Labour leader Keir Starmer has made a sudden about-face on the government's farm tax plan, announcing that about half of the farms affected will now be exempt from the 20% inheritance tax.

The U-turn comes just days before the tax was set to take effect next April, and follows months of sustained protests by the National Farmers' Union, including convoys of tractors converging on Parliament Square.

The decision is a significant concession to the farming community, which had strongly opposed the tax. It also reflects the changing makeup of the Labour party, with more MPs now representing rural and semi-rural seats.

Behind the scenes, Labour MPs from these areas had been pressing for concessions, and it's understood that discussions with the National Farmers' Union had shifted to mitigating the policy rather than scrapping it entirely.

The exact reasons for the U-turn are still unclear, but it's likely that a combination of factors contributed to the change of heart.

This is a developing story, and we will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.