Hundreds of farmers gathered in Westminster today and chanted “no farmers, no food” outside Downing Street, as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faced tough questions 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 industry anger at Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ tariff proposals.
Under plans announced in last month’s Budget, inheritance tax will rise to 20 per cent on agricultural assets worth more than £1 million. While the government insists the majority of farms will remain unaffected, farming groups have argued the threshold is far too low for many family businesses. Around 500 farmers traveled to Westminster today to protest, following a gathering of around 13,000 people in the capital last month.
As the protest took place, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey pressed Sir Keir Starmer on whether he would “change course and recognize the vital role that family farms play.” In response, the Prime Minister stated that the “vast majority” of farms would be unaffected, citing the £3 million threshold for an “ordinary family case”.
However, many farmers are still not convinced. Matt Cullen, a beef farmer and organizer at Kent Fairness for Farmers, claimed: “We need to show this government that we will not allow ourselves to be overthrown and our farms destroyed. This is war and we will win and force the government to overturn.”
Among the protesters was 26-year-old Claire Fifield, whose stepfamily runs a tenant farm in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Ms Fifield said the £1m threshold was unrealistically low given the costs associated with farming: “I don’t think they’ve spoken to a single farmer, certainly 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.”
The emotional toll of the dispute was highlighted at a sitting of the Commons Environment Committee, where Tom Bradshaw, chairman of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), was moved to tears as he described the pressures some farmers are facing. Middle-aged farmers are reportedly concerned that their parents will not live the seven years needed to avoid tax obligations, putting businesses that have been nurtured for decades at risk. Bradshaw warned of serious human 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 NFU in which he acknowledged that losing a farm “is not the same as losing any other business.” Mayhew accused the current government of duplicity. Sir Keir responded by highlighting the £5 billion of support pledged to agriculture over the next two years, including the £350 million allocated last week, and reiterated that “the vast majority of farmers are unaffected will continue” due to the changes.
As tensions remain high, the government is sticking to its reforms, while many farmers fear the new inheritance tax threshold will jeopardize family farms that have supported communities and produced British food for generations.
Peter Jones
One of Britain’s most sought-after divorce lawyers, founder of Jones Myers in 1992, first qualified arbitrator in Leeds and former National Chairman of Resolution. Peter has experience at the highest level with all aspects of financial disputes and is an expert in issues surrounding small family businesses