UPDATE: Farmers have launched a significant protest in Westminster today, December 6, 2023, against proposed inheritance tax changes, defying a ban by the Metropolitan Police. Tractors have made their way to Whitehall, with one parked outside Parliament on Abingdon Street, despite police stopping around 20 vehicles in the area.
The protest centers on plans from the Chancellor to impose a 20% inheritance tax on agricultural land and businesses valued over £1 million. Farmers across the UK, including those dressed in festive attire, have congregated in London to voice their concerns about the financial burden this tax would impose. One farmer even arrived as “Farmer Christmas,” complete with a tractor adorned with a spruce tree and a sign targeting several political figures and the BBC.
At the rally, Mark Watler, a 50-year-old farmer from Grantham, expressed the sentiment of many protesters. “The inheritance tax is just the tip of the iceberg,” he told the PA news agency. “We’re not doing it for the money; it’s a passion. We just want a fair deal.” Watler highlighted the distress farmers feel over their treatment, having grown up working on farms since age 12.
Meanwhile, David Gunn, an arable farmer from Kent, echoed these sentiments, stating, “Inheritance tax is one reason it’s going to cripple the farmers, the small family farmers.” He criticized the government for the rising costs farmers face and the challenging prices for their produce. “Farmers are going out of business,” he warned, urging the government to fulfill its pledge to support the agricultural sector.
The protest is gaining traction as farmers across the nation rally together, highlighting the urgent need for government action. The atmosphere in Westminster is charged as campaigners from the National Farmers’ Union continue to gather. Police presence remains significant as authorities monitor the situation.
As this protest unfolds, the implications for agricultural policy and rural communities are profound. Farmers are calling for the government to reconsider its stance on inheritance tax, fearing it could jeopardize the future of family-run farms.
What happens next remains critical. The government’s response to these protests may shape agricultural policies moving forward, affecting thousands of farmers across the UK. Stay tuned for further updates as this developing story unfolds.
This urgent protest underscores the growing frustration among farmers and the potential economic fallout from proposed tax changes. The call for a fair deal resonates deeply, with many feeling their livelihoods hang in the balance.
