Defra boss unfazed by threat of farmer strikes over IHT row

Defra Secretary Steve Reed has defended his government’s controversial farm inheritance tax (IHT) reforms and dismissed the likelihood of widespread farmer strikes and empty supermarket shelves.

Mr Reed appeared at the Country Land and Business Association’s (CLA) annual conference in London on Thursday 21 November where he repeatedly defended his government’s decision to introduce a 20% tax on farm assets worth over £1m from April 2026.

During a media huddle at the CLA conference, the minister was asked whether he was concerned about the possibility of British farmers withholding their supplies, leading to empty shelves at supermarkets.

See also: Farmers Weekly Podcast Ep 231: London ‘farm tax’ protest special

He replied: “The NFU has said they’re not in favour of any kind of strike, so I think there’s no risk of that happening.”

Farmers have warned that Tuesday’s mass rally in London, which attracted more than 13,000 people at its height, is just the beginning of their campaign to persuade Sir Keir Starmer’s government to reverse the policy, dubbed the “family farm tax” by the NFU.

Some more militant farmers have threatened to stage tractor “go-slow” protests on roads and halt the spreading of sewage sludge on their land.

© Philip Case

Oxfordshire arable farmer Tom Allen-Stevens confronted Mr Reed, revealing the emotional toll of the proposed tax.

Mr Allen-Stevens said he faced an IHT bill exceeding £400,000, which he could not afford.

‘Wretched policy’

In an emotional appeal, he asked the minister: “How many of the most vulnerable people in rural communities will have to take their own lives before you and [chancellor] Rachel Reeves understand the wretchedness of the policy which you have put upon us?”

While Mr Reed expressed sympathy and a willingness from government to listen to farmers’ concerns, he defended the tax, arguing that it is necessary to help plug a £22bn “black hole” in the public finances left by the previous Conservative government.

He emphasised ongoing discussions with CLA president Victoria Vyvyan and NFU president Tom Bradshaw, but later reaffirmed to journalists that the tax plan is here to stay.

Farming roadmap

In an attempt to reassure the farming community, Mr Reed unveiled plans for a 25-year farming roadmap, which he promised would be developed in collaboration with farmers.

“It will be a forward-looking plan for farming. It will make farming and food production more profitable in years to come. It will be farming-led,” he told CLA conference delegates at the QEII centre in Westminster.

However, critics argue this long-term vision does little to address the immediate concerns surrounding IHT reforms.