There was a daunting display of political power outside Lisburn on Monday night. Thousands of farmers gathered in a convention centre for a rally against new inheritance tax rules, introduced by the UK government in last month’s Westminster budget. Leading figures from Northern Ireland’s six main political parties, including the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, spoke from the podium to offer their full support. Their obeisance to a small but potent sectoral interest makes it almost impossible to imagine Stormont confronting the challenges it faces with agriculture.

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) organised the rally in co-ordinated action with its counterparts in Britain. Members attended a national protest in London the following day. They have a legitimate grievance: the new rules bring perhaps a quarter of farms back within inheritance tax, after three decades of being fully exempt. Bills for most would still be small and payable in 10 annual interest-free instalments, but farmers can be asset-rich and income poor. The tax can be avoided altogether by gifting a farm seven years before death or transferring it to a trust. However, unexpected deaths might compound family tragedy with break-up of the family farm.

The UK government says its........

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