Met Police blocks farmers’ Budget day IHT protest in London

Farmers planning a high-profile tractor protest in Whitehall on Budget day (Wednesday 26 November) have had their assembly cancelled by the Metropolitan Police, sparking fury and accusations that Westminster is once again walking away from its promises to the rural community.

According to a Met Police document seen by Farmers Weekly, the force rejected the organisers’ application for an assembly, citing concerns that the planned rally “may result in serious disruption to the life of the community”.

Sources on the ground suggest there are already between 1,500 and 2,000 tractors headed to London, with emotions among farmers running high.

Farmer Colin Rayner, who had planned to open his farm in Horton, Berkshire, to protesting farmers, said some had already travelled from as far away as Devon when news of the cancellation broke. 

See also: Farmers unite in nationwide day of protest against IHT

Mr Rayner accused the Met Police of “two-tier policing” and said the last-minute shutdown showed “one rule for farmers and another rule for others”.

He added: “As far as I know, fewer tractors were going this time than the last time – and there was no trouble at all last time. 

“We are disappointed in the Met Police not being independent. Unfortunately, the government has now brought the fight to the farmers.”

Staffordshire farmer Clive Bailye, who organised the first London tractor rally opposing government plans to introduce inheritance tax (IHT) on farming businesses, told Farmers Weekly he was stunned by the 11th-hour decision.  

“The previous London tractor protests passed off with no incident. The Met Police told us they wished every protest was as easy as working with farmers,” he said.

“You have to wonder what has gone on here behind closed doors and to what extent the government may have been involved in this decision. 

“Let’s face it, the sound of Baby Shark blasting from tractors during the chancellor’s speech would not have been a good look for the government.”

The Met Police has offered organisers a small pedestrian-only area – 850sq m on Richmond Terrace – with no space for tractors.

The Berkshire Farmers group, which had been organising the demonstration, confirmed that the Met Police withdrew consent for their peaceful tractor protest just hours before it was due to begin, calling it “an appalling approach to protesting rights”.

In a statement, organisers said that at 3pm today – “only nine hours before movements to London begin” – deputy assistant commissioner Dr Alison Heydari pulled permission “at the 11th hour” under pressure from “external stakeholders” over the risk of “disruption to the life of the community”.

The Met has imposed new conditions stating:

• Any person taking part in the farmers’ protest on Wednesday 26 November 2025 must remain in Richmond Terrace, Whitehall

• Organisers and any person taking part in the assembly must not bring vehicles… and participation… must not include the use of vehicles (a ‘vehicle’ for these purposes includes any motor vehicle, tractor or other agricultural vehicle).

Organisers described these last-minute restrictions as “a malicious approach to preventing our right to protest”, leaving no time to appeal or meet the new requirements.

As a result, the Berkshire Farmers group, including George Brown, Dan Willis and Caroline Graham, announced: “This protest has been cancelled by Dr Alison Heydari of the Metropolitan Police, and we absolve ourselves of all responsibilities for any attendance to this event.”

© Phil Weedon

The tractor protest had been time to coincided with chancellor Rachel Reeves delivering her Autumn Budget, allowing farmers to highlight their fears over upcoming farm IHT reforms – specifically changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief.

From April 2026, farmers warn that the Labour government’s plans to impose a 20% levy on agricultural asserts worth more than £1m will devastate UK family farms, forcing them to fragment or even sell land to meet tax bills. The wider impact on ancillary rural businesses is also feared.

Shadow Defra farming minister Robbie Moore described the decision to block farmers from holding a tractor rally in Whitehall as “absolutely outrageous”.

He tweeted: “The Met Police and London Mayor need to urgently explain themselves.”

Serious questions

The decision comes despite a year in which farmers say Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government has increasingly courted rural voters – offering olive branches and pledges – only to “pull the rug” out from under them at a key moment for the campaign to reverse the proposed family farm tax.

One prominent farming source told Farmers Weekly: “The rhetoric of the past 12 months and the offers of olive branches seem to have been thrown away.

“Despite changes in ministerial posts at Defra and in other departments, the messages still seem the same.

“Very sadly, there does not seem to be much room for agriculture in the government’s plans.”

The cancellation leaves serious questions for the government review of Baroness Minette Batters’ upcoming Farming Profitability Review, which is due to be published next month, and whether it will include any reference to the likely impact of IHT on farm businesses.

Met Police response

A Met Police spokesman said: “A protest is being organised by farmers for Wednesday 26 November in Westminster.

“We have had a number of conversations with the protest organisers to safely manage the event.

“While people will still be able to demonstrate, conditions have been put in place to prevent protesters from bringing vehicles, including tractors or other agricultural vehicles to the protest.

“This decision was taken due to the serious disruption they may cause to the local area, including businesses, emergency services and Londoners going about their day.

“Any person taking part in the farmers’ protest must remain in Richmond Terrace, Whitehall.”