Tractors take over London as farmers ramp up protests

London witnessed an extraordinary spectacle on Wednesday 11 December as more than 600 tractors rolled into Westminster in a dramatic protest against the Autumn Budget’s impact on farming.

Organised by Save British Farming (SBF) and Kent Fairness for Farmers, the rally showcased the growing frustration of farmers who believe government policies threaten the future of British agriculture and their livelihoods.

See also: Farmers in London to protest ‘family farm tax raid’

Farmers, many of whom travelled for hours from regions such as Exmoor, Worcestershire, Somerset and the Isle of Wight, delivered a powerful message to Sir Keir Starmer’s government: they will not back down unless there is a reversal of the controversial policy proposals.

Chief among their demands is the abandonment of plans to impose a 20% inheritance tax on farm businesses valued over £1m, set to take effect in April 2026.

Other grievances include planned tax hikes on double-cab pickups and fertiliser, the accelerated withdrawal of Basic Payments in England, and trade policies they say are undermining high UK standards.

Other protests

Simultaneously, farmers in Yorkshire and Wales organised their own protests, amplifying the call for change.

In York, more than 120 tractors filled the city centre in a rally headlined “Save Family Farms”.

Meanwhile, Welsh farmers gathered outside the Senedd in Cardiff, decrying the Welsh Labour administration’s policies, which they say threaten farming.

The London protest began with farmers assembling on Whitehall at 10.30am, followed by speeches at 12.45pm from prominent agricultural figures including North Wales hill farmer Gareth Wyn Jones, Berkshire farmer Colin Rayner, SBF founder Liz Webster and Kent farmers Jeff Gibson and David Catt.

Choking back tears, Mrs Webster addressed the crowd, saying: “This government wants to destroy the countryside like they say Thatcher destroyed the coal mines.

“I give you my absolute pledge that I will fight every step of the way to ensure that we’re still here when Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are gone.”

A poignant moment came when Mr Gibson’s children laid a wreath outside No 10 Downing Street alongside a placard that said “RIP British farming”.

A two-minute silence was then held to pay tribute to farmers who had taken their own lives over IHT worries.

Defiance

In a mix of solemnity and defiance, a Land Rover towing a coffin circled Parliament Square, representing the “death” of farming under current government plans.

In contrast, the parade of tractors, some adorned with Christmas lights, blared horns and music as they passed the Houses of Parliament in a bid to “wake up the government”.

In an act of kindness, one tractor and a pickup truck made a special stop at Great Ormond Street Hospital to deliver farm toys donated by farmers for children currently being treated for illness.

Although the NFU did not officially participate, its president, Tom Bradshaw, voiced support for the cause, acknowledging the strong feelings within the agricultural community and urging the government to take note.

But many farmers in the London crowd jeered when it was announced that the NFU had chosen not to attend.

“All farmers in the UK should stand together,” said Caroline Graham, a widowed farmer from Berkshire.