Thousands of angry farmers defy police ban on tractors at Westminster in protest at Labour’s hated ‘family death tax’_Nhy
Thousands of outraged farmers descended on Westminster this morning to protest against the so-called ‘family death tax’.
Several enormous combine harvesters parked up along Whitehall in central London for the ‘Pancake Day rally’ despite a police ban on all tractors and ‘mechanically propelled vehicles’ from the capital.
This march is the latest action being taken by farmers to protest the hated levy change, which would force farmers to pay 20 per cent inheritance tax on agricultural land worth more than £1million.
Several high-profile politicians including Reform leader Nigel Farage and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch attended the protest to express their opposition to the crippling tax.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch who arrived at around midday told the Daily Mail: ‘I am here today to make sure that people don’t forget what people are doing to the farmers.
‘It’s very important we keep this issue at the top of the agenda.’
Nigel Farage added: ‘The rural community are under attack from an urbanised political party.
‘I believe Labour are very vulnerable on this.’
Thousands of outraged farmers descended on Westminster this morning to protest against the so-called ‘family death tax’
The march is the latest action by farmers to protest the hated levy change, which would force farmers to pay 20 per cent inheritance tax on agricultural land worth more than £1m
Campaigners argue the tax, which comes into effect next year, is ‘incentivising’ elderly farmers to commit suicide before April 2026 to avoid being penalised
As protesters marched down Embankment to Bob Dylan’s ‘Knockin on Heaven’s Door’ campaign organisers at the front of the procession held a banner warning: ‘Is agriculture worth dying for?’
It comes as campaigners argue the tax, which comes into effect next year, is ‘incentivising’ elderly farmers to commit suicide before April 2026 to avoid being penalised.
David Gunn, 69, was attending the ‘Pancake Day protest’ in Whitehall with his longtime friend and fellow farmer, 50-year-old Russell Tremann, who said Labour was ‘alienating’ the countryside.
Speaking candidly, Russell told the Daily Mail: ‘This policy is incentivising the elderly farmers to commit suicide.
‘My 84-year-old father is still in my business.
‘If he were to die in the next year we would get 100 per cent tax relief. But after April 2026 we would lose it completely.
‘This is putting many older farmers – including my father – in an impossible position.
David added: ‘We’ve travelled here from Sevenoaks today to oppose this appalling tax.
Several high-profile politicians including Reform leader Nigel Farage attended the protest to express their opposition to the crippling tax
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she attended the protest to help ‘keep this issue at the top of the agenda’
Shadow environment, food and rural affairs secretary Victoria Atkins was also present
Several enormous combine harvesters parked up along Whitehall in central London for the ‘Pancake Day rally’ despite a police ban on the vehicles in the capital
Protesters held up banners as they protested against the controversial inheritance tax
‘This Labour Government is alienating the rural people in this country.
‘You cannot make the country prosperous again by taxing businesses to death.’
As farmers marched towards Parliament Square they were seen holding signs including ‘Keir Starmer farmer harmer’ and ‘Grim Reaper Reeves’ while chanting ‘we won’t back down’.
Among those in attendance were farmers Sophie Cresswell, 56, who had travelled to Whitehall from Northumberland with her 26-year-old daughter Lucy.
A frustrated Lucy explained: ‘In order to pay this new tax small farms such as ours will have to sell land because we simply don’t make enough money.
‘It will make the business completely unviable.
‘This is a discriminatory tax against people who are dying.’
Her mother Sophie added: ‘My father-in-law is 90, which means we have not had time to plan for this tax change.
Farmers argue the reforms will be devastating for multi-generational farming families
Farmers marched along in Whitehall, central London, on Tuesday morning to protest the reform
Tractors lined up on the streets of the capital, despite police issuing a specific ban on them
The concerned demonstrators gathered to hear speeches at Whitehall, in London on Tuesday
‘We will end up with an unbelievable tax bill that we haven’t been able to make provisions for.
‘So I have travelled here today to express my concern for the future of the countryside.’
Andrew Griffith, shadow secretary of state for business and trade, added: ‘I’m here today with so many of my Conservative colleagues because the Government is still not listening.
‘Farming, businesses and our rural communities are incredibly important.
‘Food security equals national security. I know just how hard it has been for rural businesses with Labour’s budget.
‘The family farm death tax demonstrates that Labour are not on the side of rural communities.
‘So once again we are here again in Whitehall desperately hoping the government will change course.’
Tom Bradshaw, head of the National Farmers Union, emphasised the importance of food security and supporting farmers amid a backdrop of increased global instability.
Many farming families are concerned the inheritance tax will devastate their industry
He said: ‘We are here to re-emphasise that the farming industry will not go away while this pernicious policy hangs over the industry.
‘Within the Labour manifesto there was that line – food security is national security – that’s never felt more relevant than today.
‘I would urge the Government to think about farmers’ critical role in our future.’
