Hundreds of farmers gathered in Westminster today, chanting “No farmers, no food” outside Downing Street, as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faced a tough grilling in the House of Commons over proposed changes to inheritance tax.
Tractors blocked parts of Whitehall during a demonstration organized by Save British Farming and Kent Fairness for Farmers, reflecting growing anger in the industry over Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ tax proposals.
Under plans announced in last month’s Budget, inheritance tax will rise to 20 per cent on farming assets worth more than £1m. Although the government has insisted that the majority of farms will not be affected, farmer groups have argued that the threshold is too low for many family-run properties. Nearly 500 farmers traveled to Westminster today to protest, following a march of around 13,000 people in the capital last month.
During the protest, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey pressed Sir Keir Starmer on whether he would “change course and recognize the vital role family farms play”. In response, the Prime Minister stated that the “vast majority” of farms would not be affected, citing a £3 million threshold for “normal household” status.
However, many farmers remain unconvinced. Matt Cullen, a beef farmer and organizer with the Kent Farmers’ Justice Association, claimed: “We need to show this government that we are not going to be shut out and our farms are not going to be destroyed. This is a war and we are going to win it and we are going to force the government to back down.”
Among the protesters was 26-year-old Claire Fifield, whose family runs a rented farm in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Ms Fifield said the £1 million threshold was unrealistically low given the costs associated with farming: “I don’t think they spoke to a single farmer, particularly a tenant farmer. They looked at Jeremy Clarkson and decided to take his money, but that penalizes the people who work these lands.” “For generations.”
The emotional impact of the dispute was highlighted during a Commons environment committee hearing, where Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), was moved to tears as he described the pressure some farmers face. Middle-aged farmers are said to be concerned that their parents will not live the seven years required to avoid tax liabilities, putting businesses they have nurtured for decades at risk. Bradshaw warned of dire humanitarian consequences, including the possibility of farmers committing suicide out of financial desperation.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Conservative MP Jerome Mayhew reminded Sir Keir Starmer of his pre-election comments to the NFA, where he acknowledged that losing a farm was “unlike losing any other business”. Mayhew accused the current administration of duplicity. Sir Keir responded by highlighting the £5bn of support pledged for farming over the next two years, including £350m allocated last week, and reiterated that the “vast majority of farmers will not be affected” by the changes. .
As tensions remain high, the government is sticking to its reforms, while many farmers fear the new inheritance tax threshold will put family farms that have supported local communities and produced British food for generations at risk.
Peter Jones
One of the most sought-after divorce lawyers in the UK, founder of Jones Myers in 1992, the first qualified arbitrator in Leeds and former National Chair of Resolution. Peter has experience at the highest level in all aspects of financial disputes and is an expert in issues relating to small family businesses
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