A FARMER and butcher has accused the government of being "a pack of liars" amid major changes to inheritance tax. 

Speaking at Monday night's public rally at Enniskillen Farmers Mart, Andrew Burleigh said that the Labour government have broken many promises and that he hopes they will be "blown out of the water" at the next general election.

"The government are the biggest pack of liars I have ever come across, to be honest," he said. "They promised they would hurt or damage the old people, what did they do? They took their heating money away. Now we have old people in their rooms foundering because they can't afford oil. 

"You can't trust them, you can't believe them. We have been told not to panic, but we are 16/17 months from this (inheritance tax change) going into law in April 2026. 

"I sincerely hope that another two years after that, God willing, the people in England will have seen through the Labour Party and will have blown them out of the water for what they are. 

"Put the conservatives back in, I say. Even if they had a bit of sleaze, they had policies that were running the country. The Conservatives, who are landowners themselves, will reverse this decision."

Mr. Burleigh, who runs a butcher shop in Ballinamallard, also warned that "the days of cheap food are over", and urged local people to support small businesses instead of large supermarkets. 

"Supermarkets have got away with it for far too long," he said. "I have seen supermarkets selling two litres of milk for £1.29. Call it a loss leader, call it whatever the heck you like, it is ridiculous that they are allowed to do that. 

"I have seen plenty of farmers going to the big supermarkets to buy the cheap stuff. Why not support the local corner shop? Support the butchers, support the wee shops that sell ordinary goods like bread and butter. People should be supporting their wee shops. 

"This is where the problem is, people want cheap food. The cheap food days are over, done, never to be back. 

"It's like this; if you want the thing you have to pay for it. With all the rules and regulations we are facing, it's not possible anymore to provide cheap food, cheap milk, cheap food of any sort. 

"The general public are going to have to realise this is the way it's going to be."

Mr. Burleigh also lambasted "weak politicians", and said that it could take a return to wartime conditions before things change. 

"The best thing that would sort it out is third world war," he remarked. "After the Second World War, the British government said, 'provide for your country', and all the farmers went out and stood for the country, and the government stood for the country. 

"The problem is now we have far too many weak politicians in high places."