Farmers warn of ‘no limits’ in fight against ‘family farm tax’

Frustrated farmers are threatening to intensify their protests against the government’s plans to impose inheritance tax, unless it takes immediate action to soften the impact on family farms.

Dubbed the “family farm tax” by the NFU, the policy would see a 20% inheritance tax (IHT) placed on agricultural assets worth more than £1m starting in April 2026, a move many farmers fear would be impossible to repay without having to sell their farms.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer sought to ease tensions by inviting NFU president Tom Bradshaw to 10 Downing Street on Monday (25 November) for talks.

The meeting covered the planned IHT changes but also broader issues such as food security, import standards and unfair pricing for farmers.

See also: New NFU analysis diminishes Treasury estimates of IHT impact

Following the talks, Mr Bradshaw described the PM as being “in listening mode” and expressed cautious optimism.

“When we talk about the very real human impacts, the viability of family farms, and the low returns from producing the country’s food, these are all conversations we’ve picked up,” he said.

Mr Bradshaw is understood to have stressed the urgency of the situation, asking the government to respond to the union’s concerns within 72 hours.

Alongside the NFU’s lobbying, the five farmers who organised last week’s London Farming Rally – a show of force which saw tens of thousands of farmers and their supporters march on London – say they have been in “positive dialogue” with senior Treasury advisers.

Food donations

Generous farmers donated 6.6t of food at the rally to the City Harvest food bank, which was enough to produce 15,400 meals across London.

Staffordshire farmer Clive Bailye, one of the farmers behind the rally, said: “We have had very encouraging discussions with Treasury advisers that hopefully will lead to positive outcomes for farmers.”

Farmers Weekly understands one idea under consideration is increasing the £1m threshold so that most family farms will not be affected.

How the government responds will likely determine the scale and intensity of future actions both by the NFU and other farming groups.

For example, the rally organisers could widen their protests to involve all sectors affected by the related changes to business property relief, including haulage, hospitality, manufacturing – potentially giving the government a much bigger problem than angry farmers alone.

The organisers of last week’s London Farming Rally hope they will not have to ramp up their activity this side of Christmas, while they have got public support and negotiations with the government are taking place.

Dover protest

In a separate move, the Save British Farming and the Fairness for Farmers of Kent campaign groups held a go-slow tractor convoy around Dover on Wednesday (27 November), which involved more than 200 tractors.

The farmers taking part also brought food donations for local food banks.

Defra secretary Steve Reed has said he is not concerned about the prospect of farmers withholding their supplies from supermarkets, as he has received assurances from the NFU that they are “not in favour of any kind of strike action”.

However, speaking anonymously, one farmer described the mood in the industry as “increasingly desperate”.

“Farmers could bring the country to a halt in 30 minutes; we have got more kit than the army. We have got desperate people who have got nothing to lose. There is no limit to what people could do.”