Farmers protest in London against Labour’s inheritance tax reforms

Farmers and tractors descended into London for the second time in a month to protest against the Labour government’s changes to inheritance tax.

The ‘RIP British Farming’ protest on 11 December was organised in response to Chancellor Rachel Reeve’s ‘toxic’ November Budget. The protest also followed the publication of a government report which analysed the state of UK food security.

Liz Webster, founder of Save British Farming, which has organised the event alongside Kent Fairness for Farmers, commented “this anti-farming Stalinist offensive from the Labour government presents a real danger to us all.”  Kent Fairness for Farmers organiser and beef farmer Matt Cullen added “We need to show this government that we will not be pushed over and have our farms destroyed. This is a war and we will win and force the government into a U-turn.”

Asked if Sir Keir Starmer was concerned farmers could get more militant and restrict food supplies, a spokesman for the PM said “We have been very clear we are not going to change course on this policy. But our commitment to farmers is steadfast and our message to farmers is clear, that is why we provided £5bn to the farming budget over two years.”

Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of the Countryside Alliance said: “ It isn’t easy for farmers to give up time on the farm producing food to feed us to come to London to make themselves heard. But Rachel Reeves needs to listen and she needs to do it quickly or risk a lengthy and toxic battle with the countryside. The food of British farming and food security is at stake and I do not see protests quietening down”.

Speaking at the protest, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed Labour MPs were “more disconnected” from rural England than at any time in the Parliament’s 800-year history. He also encouraged further peaceful protests in “every market town in England.”

The second protest follows an initial march on London on 19 November, where an estimated 20,000 people demonstrated against the devastating changes the budget will have on farming and the countryside.