The son of a farmer who took his own life has spoken about the financial pressures currently facing people working in agriculture.
Cattle farmer John Charlesworth, 78, who was known as Philip, was found dead last week at Broad Close Farm, near Barnsley, which has been run by the family since 1957.
Jonathan Charlesworth, 46, said the Silkstone farm's annual profit was only £15,000 and that income had mainly come from diversifying its operations by opening a campsite and activity centre.
"Farms are asset rich, but there isn't any cash in the system. What little bit we make, we live off," he said.
"It was his life and seeing that passed to the next generation, that was the aim," Mr Charlesworth said of his father.
Mr Charlesworth said his father had also been full-time carer for his wife, who has advanced dementia, which had added to his financial worries.
The most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics showed 36 farmers across the UK took their own lives in 2021.
In the government's recent Budget, it was announced that a 20% inheritance tax would apply to agricultural assets worth more than £1m from April 2026.
Previously, agricultural property tax relief allowed family farms, including land, buildings, and housing, to pass between generations tax-free.
Paying tribute to his father, Mr Charlesworth said: "In any other job you would have compassionate leave, but on a farm you're just working twice as hard."
The government said it was unable to comment on this specific case, but offered its condolences to Mr Charlesworth's family and friends.
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Biden authorises Ukraine to use US long-range missiles to strike Russia - reportspublished at 18:45 18:45Breaking US President Joe Biden has given the green light for Ukraine to use long-range missiles supplied by the US to strike Russia, according to US media reports. There is no formal confirmation by the White House or the Pentagon of the move which would be a major change of US policy. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has been urging for months for these restrictions on long-range missiles to be lifted, allowing Ukraine to target locations inside Russia. -
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Environment Secretary is asked by Kay Burley this morning about accepting free football tickets from a water company. Interviewing Steve Reed as he announced the government’s new independent review of the UK water industry, the Sky News presenter began by reminding the cabinet minister how one particular firm, Northumbrian Water, is one of three companies water regulator Ofwat says is not fit for purpose. She pointed out that they recorded 30 sewage spills over the course of 2023, and that the chief executive received a bonus of £234,000 that year. Burley then said: “Why did you take football tickets from the parent company?” “I didn’t,” the minister replied. But Burley reminded him that CK Hutchison Holdings own 75% of Northumbrian Water, and he declared £2,000 in football tickets and hospitality from that company in 2023. Reed claimed, “I wouldn’t have known that” and added: “On that occasion there was nobody from the water company involved in offering those tickets.” “Why didn’t you know that, you should have known that,” Burley pushed. “So you didn’t know who you were taking tickets from?” He said the topic didn’t come up and had no impact on the evening, instead asking the presenter to “judge me by what I do”. “That is what you did!” Burley cut in, and said he should have been aware who CK Hutchison Holdings owned. She added: “This was only last December, you knew you were going to be in power.” “The implications behind this is completely wrong,” Reed replied. “It took my producer Sam five minutes to find that out,” Burley hit out. “You are in charge of these businesses when it comes to delivering water to the UK and you didn’t know?” “What makes you think you’re fit for your job?” Reed, looking irate, said he rejected “the implications is that I will go soft on water companies”. But, asked if he would take those tickets again, he said no “with hindsight,” adding: “I don’t think it’s helpful you’re able to ask me questions like this.” Burley laughed in disbelief... -
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Former Tarrant County Judge Glenn Whitley — a life-long member of the Republican Party who served from 2007 to 2022 — has been one of Texas’ most prominent Republicans. And as the November elections approach, he sounded a warning: He is voting for Vice President Kamala Harris over former president Donald Trump, and while he’s announcing his break with the party publicly, he believes many Republicans will vote for Harris in secret. “There are a lot, I think,” Whitley said. “They’re afraid to come out, because when they do, they get ridiculed and they get bullied and they get belittled. And so a lot of people who have been staunch Republicans and still are staunch Republicans, are afraid to stand up and be confrontational with some of the leaders that we have right now. “It’s going to be close, but I truly believe that that a lot of Republicans are going to go into that booth and say, ‘I can’t support the insurrection.’ ... I have talked with a number of people who I believe will do that, and they may not openly come out and say, ‘I’m voting for Harris,’ or they may just not vote.” When it comes to Trump, there are a lot of reasons for Republicans to reject him, but also good reasons to vote for Harris, Whitley said. While Trump holds a four-point lead in the latest Texas polls, Harris is leading in most battleground states, but many polls are within the margin of error. “Trump has constantly belittled and, you know, bullied people,” Whitley said. “He’s disrespected our military and our vets, he was convicted of paying hush money to a porn star. And then the thing that broke the camel’s back for me was the insurrection on Jan. 6. “And so that’s the reason I wouldn’t vote for Trump, but the reason that I will support and vote for Harris is the fact that I do believe she wants to lift people up.” Like it or not, this election is more important than our recent change of government. -
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Starmer has been dealt another blow after Labour members at the party’s conference voted in favour of a motion calling for ministers to reverse their cut to the winter fuel allowance. A motion put forward by Unite at the party’s conference in Liverpool has been overwhelmingly backed by members, which will cause further blushes for Sir Keir. While there is nothing binding about the vote, it puts further pressure on the Labour leadership over its controversial decision to remove the benefit. The motion passed by a show of hands on what is the last day of the Labour Party conference in Liverpool. -
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Twelve White House lawyers who represented former presidents Ronald Reagan's, George H.W. Bush's and George W. Bush's administrations endorsed Harris over former President Donald Trump, whom they dubbed a danger to the nation. "We endorse Kamala Harris and support her election as President because we believe that returning former President Trump to office would threaten American democracy and undermine the rule of law in our country," the lawyers wrote in a letter obtained by Fox News. "We urge all patriotic Republicans, former Republicans, conservative and center-right citizens, and independent voters to place love of country above party and ideology and join us in supporting Kamala Harris." Among the signatories is Michael Luttig, the conservative judge who made headlines earlier this week with his historic decision to back a democrat over Trump. "I am proud to join my colleagues and friends in this endorsement," Luttig wrote on X. He extended thanks to Harris and to Fox News. Luttig was joined by former White House attorneys John Bellinger, Benedict Cohen, Peter D. Keisler, Robert M. Kruger, John Mitnick, Alan Charles Raul, Nicholas Rostow, Peter J. Rusthoven and Wendell L. Willkie, according to Fox News. The twelve attorneys represent a small portion of Republicans who say they'll cross the aisle to ensure Trump does not reclaim the White House in 2025. -
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Presidential hopeful Trump talking at a recent rally in Pennsylvania. "I say that I'm much better-looking than her. Much better. I'm a better-looking person than Kamala," Trump told his supporters this after referencing recent discourse surrounding Harris' looks. Including an assessment that she had an advantage over him because she's a "very beautiful woman" running for office. Is this someone to be trusted with a responsible role in government? -
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A Russian court has sentenced Ksenia Karelina, a dual Russian-US citizen, to 12 years in prison for treason over a donation she made to a charity that helps Ukraine. The Sverdlovsk Regional Court announced the sentence on Thursday after prosecutors had asked the judge to jail Ms Karelina, 33, for 15 years. The Federal Security Service, known as the FSB, accused her in February of collecting funds for the Ukrainian army, Russia’s state-run Tass news service reported. A resident of Los Angeles, Ms Karelina was detained during a family visit to the city of Yekaterinburg. The case revolved around a donation of about $50 that Ms Karelina allegedly made in 2022 to a US-based charity providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. The FSB claimed the money was used to aid the Ukrainian military, without offering any evidence, in the wake of Russia’s February 2022 invasion. -
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The "Daily Telegraph" reports universities will open doors to "failing students". This will allow the universities to continue their failing business for academic courses? Supply and demand... Might it be an idea for some struggling universities to re-vamp their offer to give vocational courses to produce plumbers, electricians, mechanics, ... and become technical colleges? Our local college has a great programme for chefs and those aiming to work in the hospitalty business. -
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All gossip! "Anthony Scaramucci predicted Donald Trump might drop out of the 2024 presidential race due to internal campaign turmoil and declining poll numbers. Vice President Kamala Harris narrowed the economic trust gap with Trump, according to recent polls. Prediction markets favored Harris over Trump, with a 52% to 45% lead in win odds, reflecting a significant shift in voter sentiment. Pro-Bitcoin Anthony Scaramucci, a former aide to Donald Trump and now one of his outspoken critics, has made a shocking prediction today. He publicly declared that he expects Trump to quit the 2024 U.S. presidential elections. Moreover, Scaramucci’s statements have sparked a wave of speculation among political analysts and commentators, raising questions about the stability and future of Trump’s campaign. Scaramucci made his remarks in response to a post by YouTuber Stephanie LB, who shared a snapshot of Trump’s recent comments. These polls showed Trump leading slightly in key states such as Pennsylvania, Nevada, and North Carolina against Vice President Kamala Harris. Despite these favorable numbers, Stephanie LB predicted, “He’s gonna quit before he big loses,” a sentiment that Scaramucci quickly supported. “I said this a month ago on The Rest Is Politics US,”. Moreover, he continued by suggesting that Trump is more fragile than he appears. Scaramucci labeled Donald Trump a “frightened little man” who would retreat" etc etc The media gossip business at full throttle [ throttling Trump? ] -
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Rachel Reeves has been criticised for appointing an adviser who suggested “codger” pensioners should face higher taxes and be stripped of free TV licences. Last week, the shadow chancellor unveiled Sir Edward Troup, a former head of HMRC, as part of a panel of experts advising her on tackling tax avoidance. Speaking at a round table hosted by the Resolution Foundation he described pensioners as an “under-taxed generation” who “have had it ridiculously good”. He suggested that perks for the over-75s, such as free TV licences, should instead be handed to younger working families who needed financial help more. ‘We should be looking at the codgers’ “I’m a baby boomer, I was born in 1955, and we have had it ridiculously good. We’ve benefited from low interest rates, high inflation when we bought our houses, we’ve enjoyed good returns on whatever we’ve managed to put into our pension funds. “We’re not paying national insurance if we’re still working after the age of 60, and it’s a complete disgrace. I am part of an under-taxed generation, so I’m afraid we are going to have to look at the more senior members of society.” Sir Edward then cited “great analysis” by the Financial Times which he said highlighted “the ridiculous nature of giving free television licences to the over-75s who are much better off than young families with children”. He added: “They’re the ones who deserve the free television licences anyway, so we should be looking at the codgers.” Are you a codger? "an old man, especially one who is strange or humorous in some way" Or a Baby Boomer? -
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