(Commonwealth_Europe) On Monday, February 10, more than 1,000 tractors made their way into Whitehall for a large-scale rally against the UK government’s agricultural policies, with a particular focus on the controversial proposed inheritance tax (IHT) targeting family-run farms. Farmers from across the country, including regions such as Lincoln, Devon, Worcestershire, Somerset, Derbyshire, Berkshire, Kent, Hertfordshire, Nottinghamshire, and Essex, united in London to express their opposition to the policies they believe threaten the future of British farming.
This rally marks the third major protest since the Autumn Budget announcement, highlighting the growing frustration within the farming community. Farmers have voiced concerns that the government’s policies, particularly the planned farm inheritance tax, will put many family farms at risk, forcing them to sell off land or business assets to pay for the tax. The Save British Farming (SBF) group, which organized the event, is campaigning against a proposal that would impose a 20% inheritance tax on agricultural assets worth over £1 million, set to take effect in April 2026.
The rally coincided with a parliamentary debate on an online petition opposing the inheritance tax. The petition, which has gathered nearly 150,000 signatures, argues that the tax would endanger the viability of family farms, many of which are already operating on tight margins. According to an analysis from the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), a typical arable farm would need to pay 159% of its annual profit to cover the tax bill if payments are spread over 10 years.
At the rally, key figures from the farming industry spoke out, including Tom Bradshaw, the president of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), food poverty campaigner Dominic Watters, celebrity farmer Gareth Wyn Jones, and several representatives from the CLA. Additionally, Jess Sharp, a future ninth-generation farmer from Leicestershire, and Sally Field, a Sussex tenant dairy farmer, took to the stage to share their personal experiences and raise awareness about the threats to family farming in the UK. Their speeches amplified the concerns of farmers across the country, stressing the need for government action to preserve farming as a sustainable livelihood and vital industry.
One of the key speakers, Liz Webster, the founder of SBF, addressed the growing concerns about the government’s approach to farming. She criticized the administration for not learning from past mistakes, warning that failing to support British farming could lead to a national food security crisis. “We cannot rely on cheap imports from unstable regions, and our food security must become a national priority,” she emphasized, pointing to the importance of a strong domestic farming sector to safeguard the UK’s food supply.
The proposed inheritance tax has sparked widespread fear within the farming community, with many worrying that it could force the sale of land or business assets to meet the tax liabilities. With farming operations often passed down through generations, this tax would hit hard, especially for family-owned farms that may not have the liquidity to cover such significant costs. As part of the ongoing protest, the Save British Farming campaign has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the costs of the rally, which includes expenses for banners, a mobile screen to broadcast the debate, and other logistical needs.
Other than the inheritance tax, farmers have also raised concerns about other policies that are negatively affecting their livelihoods, including significant reductions in direct payments to farmers in England, an increase in taxes on double-cab pickups, and the rising costs of fertilizers. The delay in key agricultural funding schemes, which are vital for supporting the sector’s development, has only added to the frustration.
As the government maintains its stance, farming leaders continue to push for a rethinking of these policies. NFU president Tom Bradshaw expressed disappointment that Treasury officials, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, have refused to meet with farm representatives to discuss the proposed changes. “This issue is not going away,” Bradshaw stated. “Farmers will continue to fight for their livelihoods, and we will not back down until the government listens and takes action.”
Gavin Lane, the deputy president of the CLA, also spoke at the rally, underscoring the importance of a united front from the farming community. “The government is hoping that farmers will just move on from this issue, but this is our way of life and our livelihoods we’re defending,” he remarked. “The case against these tax reforms continues to grow stronger, and the farming community must come together with the broader British industry to fight for a fairer approach.”
The protest and rally came as the government issued a statement in defense of its policies, saying it would invest £5 billion in farming over the next two years, claiming this would represent the largest budget for sustainable food production in UK history. Additionally, the government argued that reforms to agricultural and business property relief would lower the inheritance tax rate to 20%, down from the current 40%, with the payments spread over 10 years and interest-free.
Despite this, the government’s position has done little to ease the concerns of farmers, who remain adamant that the proposed inheritance tax will undermine the future of British farming and harm rural communities across the country. As the debate continues, SBF and other farming organizations remain committed to ensuring that their voices are heard and that the government reconsiders its policies to protect the long-term viability of family farms.
As Liz Webster stated during the rally, “This is a marathon, not a sprint. We must build momentum and continue pushing for a U-turn on this disastrous Budget for farming.” The farming community plans more protests to clearly communicate to the government the need to protect family-run farms.
