London rally: Farm leaders vow to continue IHT fight

Farm leaders have pledged to continue their fight against the government’s plans to introduce a 20% inheritance tax on agricultural assets, vowing to keep up the pressure until Sir Keir Starmer’s government reverses its decision.

Thousands of farmers gathered in London on a rainy day to protest the proposed farm inheritance tax (IHT), with more than 1,400 tractors travelling from across the UK, including Devon and Lincolnshire, to take part in the “Change Your Tune, Starmer” rally.

Save British Farming (SBF) founder Liz Webster addressed the crowd, declaring: “We have brought tractors to London several times and every time we have come back we’ve got bigger and louder, and we’re not going to go away.”

See also: Hundreds of tractors head to London for IHT protest

NFU president Tom Bradshaw spoke at the rally © Philip Case/MAG

NFU president Tom Bradshaw also spoke at the rally, praising Mrs Webster for her leadership and urging the crowd to keep up the fight.

“When we first came to Westminster on 19 November, I don’t think the government knew what would hit them. The message is getting louder, the message is getting clearer,” he said.

“If the government thinks we will go away, they don’t understand you, farming, or farmers.”

Mr Bradshaw said farmers just want to earn a fair living from the food they produce.

“We’re not against paying the tax. We prefer to pay the tax from the food we produce, rather than a death tax, which is simply unaffordable and unacceptable,” he said.

Gareth Wyn Jones, a farmer from North Wales, also spoke passionately about the impact of the proposed tax.

“We are here to fight for an industry that deserves a voice,” he said, urging chancellor Rachel Reeves and the government to reconsider the IHT plans.

Reflecting on his visit to the Churchill War Rooms, he added: “Winston Churchill would be turning in his grave over these reforms. They protected the farmers that kept these cities fed. Have they forgotten what we do for them?”

Mr Wyn Jones vowed not to back down, declaring: “We will keep going until the last breath in my body.”

Save British Farming (SBF) founder Liz Webster © Philip Case/MAG

Personal story

Surrey farmer Caroline Martin, who recently lost her husband, also shared her personal story.

With tears in her eyes, she explained how the proposed inheritance tax could force her daughters to sell part of the family farm.

“Mr Starmer and Rachel Reeves, this is not a make-believe story. This is real. If this ruling goes in, there is no question that my daughters will have to sell a big part of the farm to pay the inheritance tax.”