At least 13,000 Farmers Descend on Whitehall Accusing the Government of ‘betrayal’

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Whitehall was awash with green waxed jackets, flat caps, and wellies as more than 10,000 farmers gathered to protest against the government's proposed inheritance tax reforms. In a rare show of solidarity, farmers young and old braved bitter drizzle to express their outrage over a 20% inheritance tax planned for farms valued above £1.5 million, a policy they see as a betrayal of generations of labor and land stewardship.

 

 

The anger reached a crescendo as protesters directed a collective howl of indignation toward 11 Downing Street, targeting Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Tractors adorned with Union Jacks thundered through the streets, their horns blaring in defiance. Two drivers were later reprimanded for crossing barrier lines, but the message was clear: farmers would not back down. Andrew Ward, one of the protest organizers, stood atop a lorry doubling as a stage and declared, “If they think we are going to back down now, they can think again.”  

 

 

Protesters also used the occasion to highlight their commitment to feeding the nation. Tonnes of produce, brought to London by demonstrators, were donated to City Harvest, one of the city’s largest food banks. Farmers’ children rode toy tractors in Parliament Square, symbolizing the devastating potential impact of the inheritance tax on the next generation.  

 

 

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) set the stage earlier in the day with a “mass lobby” at Church House in Westminster, where 1,800 members gathered to share personal stories of how the policy would affect their families. NFU president Tom Bradshaw delivered an emotional speech, tearing up as he described the plight of elderly farmers at risk of losing their life’s work. “The human impact of this policy is simply not acceptable,” Bradshaw said. “Any tax revenue raised will be taken from our children and from those who die in tragic circumstances.”  

 

 

Bradshaw warned that the fight was far from over, pledging months of campaigning to challenge MPs across constituencies. He described the policy as a betrayal, calling it “the straw which broke the camel’s back.” His speech received a standing ovation as he criticized the government for launching such a disruptive policy without consulting the farming community.  

 

Farmers face daunting financial realities. While the average English farm spans 216 acres with land valued at £11,500 per acre, the costs of equipment, buildings, and stock quickly escalate. A single tractor can cost £300,000, while a combine harvester may exceed £500,000. Despite being asset-rich, most farms are cash-poor, with an average return of less than 1%. Rising input costs—up over 40% since 2019—compound the financial strain.  

 

 

Though the policy allows single farm owners to pass on land valued up to £1.5 million tax-free, and couples up to £3 million, many farmers argue it is insufficient given the combined value of their land, machinery, and assets. “We’d have to sell land or the whole thing,” one farmer lamented, adding that their modest earnings make the tax unmanageable.  

 

With farm budgets failing to keep pace with inflation, many feel abandoned. “Last year I was on a salary of £12,000, and my parents were on £20,000,” one farmer shared. “Labour just doesn’t want to know us.”  

 

The protests underscored the deep frustration and unity within the farming community, as they vowed to fight the policy and protect their livelihoods from what they see as an existential threat.

 

 

Based on a report by Times & Sunday Times 2024-11-20

 

 

 

[quake]

Go there boys.

Inheritance tax is just,  government theft.

[James105]

Starmer has now come out and said he gets it as his first job was on a farm, which is right up there with Rachel Reeves claims she was a chess champion and an economist.   

 

This is another stupid Labour policy that was rushed through without speaking to farmers or the body that represents them that will harm the UKs ability to feed itself, all for just £560 million a year, which is equivalent to 25 hours worth of NHS spending.   

 

I don't think the UK can survive another 4 years and 6 months of this Labour government.   They are doing way too much harm already and it is so early on.   The farmers look like they will soon adopt a more French style approach to protesting, and the arrogance and stupidity of Labour for just 25 hours of NHS spending will see the UK descend into chaos as the protests and dissatisfaction escalates.