Farmers plan to ramp up protests against farm tax raid

British farmers are preparing for a wave of intensified protests in 2025, targeting the government’s inheritance tax (IHT) reforms and other policies they claim pose a serious threat to rural livelihoods.

The changes, announced in the Autumn Budget, would impose a 20% tax on agricultural assets valued over £1m from April 2026, diluting long-standing reliefs.

Farmers warn these measures will devastate family-run farms, businesses, and the broader rural economy.

See also: Farmers urged to light beacons in New Year’s Eve protest

Save British Farming (SBF) is one group spearheading the resistance with a string of high-profile actions.

As well as a children’s letter writing campaign, it is planning tractor rallies in late January and February, targeting key Labour-held constituencies such as Brighton, Swindon, Lincoln, Leicester, Bristol, Croydon, Leeds and possibly Camden.

A large-scale “go-slow” tractor run around London’s North and South Circular routes is also planned for February.

Should the government remain unmoved after its spring spending review, SBF warns “all options are on the table, including a food strike”.

“We cannot ignore the severity of the humanitarian crisis caused by the cliff edge of this cruel and pernicious tax,” said SBF founder Liz Webster.

“I’ve pledged to do everything I can to stop this, and I hope farmers will back us all the way.”

Upcoming events

Elsewhere, the five farmers who organised the London Farming Rally on 19 November, including Herefordshire-based Martin Williams, are maintaining pressure through dialogue with government officials.

Mr Williams noted that upcoming events such as the Oxford Farming Conference next month and the NFU Conference on 25 February in London present opportunities for ministers to reverse or amend the reforms.

Without action, another mass rally in London is planned for the spring, aiming to draw 250,000 participants – five times the turnout of November’s London Farming Rally.

“We’re building an army,” said Merseyside farmer and rally organiser Olly Harrison, speaking at a business property relief (BPR) summit in London this week.

“Last time we were 45,000 strong; this time, we’re aiming for 250,000.”

At the summit, held at the London Palladium on Monday 16 December, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch condemned the IHT reforms, citing CBI Economics data projecting a £2.6bn tax revenue loss and 125,000 job cuts over five years as family farms cut investment or close.

“We will reverse this damaging tax grab at the earliest opportunity,” she pledged.

Family businesses 

Ahead of the summit, a group of 32 trade associations representing more than 160,000 UK family-owned businesses, ranging from the Farm Retail Association to the British Beer and Pub Association, wrote to the chancellor calling for a full and formal consultation on the changes to the IHT proposals.

A Treasury spokesperson defended the reforms, however, citing a £22bn “black hole” in public finances.

“Difficult choices were needed,” added the spokesperson, promising an impact analysis from government on the BPR changes.

Meanwhile, the Arthur Rank Centre, a key advocate for rural churches and communities, urged farmers impacted by the Autumn Budget to reach out for support.

For details, visit the Arthur Rank Centre website.