Farmers’ protest live: Thousands set to arrive in London again amid ban on tractors by Met Police – UK Times

The government has stood firm in the face of strong opposition to the move, insisting its approach is “fair and balanced”.

A government spokesperson said: “Our commitment to farmers remains steadfast.

“This Government are investing £5 billion into farming, the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history.

“We are going further with reforms to boost profits for farmers by backing British produce and reforming planning rules on farms to support food production.

“Our reform to agricultural and business property reliefs will mean three quarters of estates will continue to pay no inheritance tax at all, while the remaining quarter will pay half the inheritance tax that most people pay, and payments can be spread over 10 years, interest-free.

“This is a fair and balanced approach which helps fix the public services we all rely on.”

The Lib Dems and the Conservatives urged Labour to scrap the changes, which are due to come into force from April 2026.

Shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins called the move “vindictive”.

“Once again, rural communities will gather in Westminster to show their united opposition to Labour’s vindictive family farms tax.

“Our rural communities have warned repeatedly that Labour’s tax hike is stopping investment, inflicting an enormous emotional toll on farming families and will break family farms,” she said.

She also argued that introducing this tax puts domestic food production and security at risk.

Tim Farron, the Lib Dem environment spokesman, said: “British farmers are the best in the world. We need them now more than ever to restore nature, provide food security, tackle climate change and support the rural economy.

“The Government must reverse this disastrous family farm tax and instead provide farmers with the support and funding they need to do what is best for the country and for future generations.”

Labour is pressing ahead with a 20 per cent inheritance tax rate on agricultural land and businesses worth more than £1 million, essentially scrapping an exemption which meant no tax was paid to pass down family farms.

Farmers say that it will force land sales, stall investment, and hurt families lacking succession plans.

But the Government has stood firm, calling the move a “fair and balanced approach”.

Farmers will return to central London to protest inheritance tax changes with a “Pancake Day rally” on Tuesday.

Attendees will march from Whitehall at around midday towards Parliament, with the demonstration due to end at 3pm.

The protest will be largely on foot as police are allowing only a limited number of tractors after last month’s demonstration caused traffic delays.

Farmers who bring tractors in breach of the conditions could face arrest.

Farmer Olly Harrison, one of the organisers, has said the protesters will aim to explain to MPs “the levels of investment needed in agriculture just to produce something simple like a pancake”.