Farmers converge on London to protest inheritance tax

On Monday, I highlighted how the Government has failed to consider the impact of its proposed IHT changes on Scottish tenant farmers. You can read more about it here: https://t.co/azVxFAZ8pi

— Wendy Chamberlain (@wendychambLD) February 13, 2025

Hundreds of farmers from across the UK drove their tractors into central London on Monday to protest against a proposed inheritance tax on farms. The demonstration, organized by the Save British Farming movement, saw tractors and even a tank draped with the Union Jack flag blocking streets around Parliament Square and Whitehall. The Labour government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, recently announced plans to impose a 20% inheritance tax on farms valued at over £1 million starting from April 2026.

Two young NFU Cymru members have given MPs a stark warning about their farming future should the UK Govt press on with its planned changes to inheritance tax reliefs.

They attended the MP drop-in session on Monday, ahead of a Westminster Hall debate.

➡️https://t.co/kWacyO2utU pic.twitter.com/W5fGS4sKc3

— NFU Cymru 🚜 (@NFUCymru) February 12, 2025

Farmers argue that this new tax could force them to sell significant portions of their land to pay the government, threatening the sustainability of family farms passed down through generations. Liz Webster, one of the protest organizers, expressed concern that the tax could lead to a food crisis by making it challenging to invest in agriculture. “The government is marching into a food crisis,” Webster warned. Farmers from various regions of the UK joined the protest, sharing their fears about the future of their farms.

There's still time to donate a toy tractor for the NFU's display in London 🚜

All donations will be given to charity following the event.

Find a drop off point near you ➡️https://t.co/DH99GwsK1O pic.twitter.com/aJ7ymxiaOl

— NFU Cymru 🚜 (@NFUCymru) February 12, 2025

Simon Broad, a farmer from Penshurst, cautioned that the reforms could make Britain more reliant on food imports, jeopardizing domestic food security.

Farmers protest inheritance tax proposal

Paul Vicary, who traveled from a town 50 kilometers away, stated, “If we lose that land, what’s left won’t be enough to sustain a farm.” He explained that his family might have to sell half of their farm to cover the tax bill. Fifth-generation farmer Jazmin Glover echoed these sentiments. “If this tax is put in place, we won’t be able to afford to take over our family farms. Our generation will have zero hope of keeping this business going,” she said. The government has remained firm, stating that the policy is necessary to fund public services. The protest coincided with a parliamentary debate on an e-petition signed by more than 148,000 people demanding that tax relief for working farms remain unchanged. High-profile politicians, including Nigel Farage of the Reform UK party, took the opportunity to address the crowd, though organizers distanced themselves from Farage’s comments, which called for an end to all “death taxes.” The London demonstration follows a series of similar protests across Europe, where farmers have voiced grievances ranging from environmental regulations to fuel taxes and declining produce prices. The UK government now faces a decision: to heed the farmers’ demands or risk further demonstrations that could escalate as the policy’s implementation date approaches.