Farmers Protest in Westminster Over Inheritance Tax Reforms

Tractors Block Whitehall as Farmers Rally Against New Levy

Hundreds of farmers gathered in Westminster today, using tractors to block parts of Whitehall in a demonstration against the government’s proposed inheritance tax reforms. The protest, organized by Save British Farming and Kent Fairness for Farmers, reflects mounting industry frustration over Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s planned tax increases.

Government’s Inheritance Tax Plan Sparks Outrage

Under the government’s new policy, announced in last month’s Budget, inheritance tax on agricultural assets exceeding £1 million will increase to 20%. While officials claim that most farms will be unaffected, farming groups argue that the threshold is too low for many family-run businesses, putting their future at risk.

Growing Movement Against Tax Reforms

Today’s demonstration follows a larger rally last month, where approximately 13,000 people gathered in London. Around 500 farmers made their way to Westminster today, determined to make their voices heard.

Speaking at the protest, Matt Cullen, a beef farmer and organizer with Kent Fairness for Farmers, warned that farmers would not back down:

“We need to show this government that we will not be pushed over and have our farms destroyed. This is war, and we will win and force the government into a U-turn.”

Political Showdown Over Farming Tax

As the demonstration unfolded, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey challenged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in Parliament, asking whether he would reconsider the tax hike and acknowledge the importance of family farms.

In response, Starmer defended the policy, stating that the “vast majority” of farms would not be affected due to an increased £3 million threshold for “ordinary family” cases. However, this reassurance has done little to ease concerns within the farming community.

Farmers Fear for Their Future

Many farmers argue that the new threshold is far too low to protect family-run farms, especially with the high costs associated with modern agriculture.

Claire Fifield, 26, whose step-family runs a tenanted farm in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, criticized the government’s approach:

“I don’t think they’ve spoken to a single farmer, especially not a tenant farmer. They looked at Jeremy Clarkson and decided to take his money, but this punishes people who have been working these lands for generations.”

Emotional Toll on Farming Families

The emotional strain of the proposed changes was evident during a session of the Commons Environment Committee, where Tom Bradshaw, President of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), broke down in tears while discussing the intense pressure farmers face.

Middle-aged farmers, he explained, are worried that their elderly parents will not survive the required seven years needed to avoid the tax liability, potentially leading to family farms being lost forever.

Bradshaw also warned of severe mental health consequences, expressing fears that financial uncertainty could drive some farmers to take their own lives.

Conservatives Accuse Government of Betrayal

During Prime Minister’s Questions, Conservative MP Jerome Mayhew reminded Starmer of his pre-election promises to farmers. He accused the government of hypocrisy, citing the Prime Minister’s previous statement to the NFU:

“Losing a farm is not like losing any other business.”

In response, Starmer defended the policy, pointing to the £5 billion in agricultural support pledged over the next two years, including £350 million allocated in the past week.

Farming Communities Fear for the Future

Despite government reassurances, many in the farming community remain deeply concerned. They argue that the new tax threshold threatens multi-generational farms, undermining British agriculture and rural communities.

As the standoff continues, the government insists on moving forward with its reforms, while farmers vow to keep fighting for the future of British farming.