Video: Farmer protests return to London over inheritance tax

Tractors have once again rolled into central London as farmers protest the proposed farm inheritance tax reforms, due to take effect on 6 April.

Farmers warn the policy could devastate UK farms and worsen domestic food security amid global instability, including the war in Iran.

About 20 farmers from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire and Leicestershire drove their tractors to Westminster on Tuesday (3 March) ahead of chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement.

See also: Farmers take festive tractors to London protest

The latest protest comes just weeks before a High Court judicial review on 17-18 March.

Campaigners hope this could delay the tax’s introduction if the court finds the government failed to consult the industry properly.

Placards on tractors displayed messages including “No British farming, No food”, “Unite the country. Your Farmers, our Food” and “Labour Out”, as farmers urged ministers to abandon the policy and provide stronger support for domestic food production.

Arable farmers squeezed

Will Finn-Kelcey, an arable farmer near Milton Keynes, said growers are being squeezed by low commodity prices and rising input costs, with energy bills and red diesel soaring due to global tensions.

“The government needs to rethink food security, start speaking to and engaging with supermarkets and the food sector,” he said.

“We are headed towards a potential World War Three scenario.

“And we need to see more support for domestic food production and a complete removal of the proposed farm inheritance tax policy.

“At the moment, we’re not seeing any support for farmers from this government.

“The new SFI seems to be targeted at small farmers, less than 50ha.

“These are not the main food-producing farms of the country.

“The government keeps saying ‘we’re supporting farmers with millions of pounds’, but we’re not seeing this.”

Imported fertiliser reliance

Another farmer from Berkshire added: “The government needs to wake up and realise the country is sleepwalking into a food security crisis.

“We have closed both fertiliser factories and are now entirely reliant on imports.

“We saw the risks with Ensus – when the Teesside bioethanol plant stopped production, it exposed how losing domestic biofuel capacity hits both fuel supply and the farmers who grow the wheat that produces the fuel.”

Farmers say the Spring Statement presents an opportunity for ministers to pause the reforms, clarify farm support schemes, and outline measures to strengthen domestic production at a time of geopolitical uncertainty.

However, Farmers Weekly understands there are no major policy announcements expected for farming.