Video: Farmers To Action stages ‘Say No to Labour’ protests

More than 1,000 tractors and farmers across the UK put aside their busy spring schedules – drilling, lambing and calving – to take part in a nationwide protest against what they describe as the Labour government’s “anti-farming” policies.

Organised by Farmers To Action, the “National Say No to the Government Day” on Monday 24 March highlighted the growing frustrations within the agricultural community over government policies that they argue will devastate both farming businesses and the future of British food production.

The protestors rallied at more than 20 locations across the country, with farmers voicing their opposition to a variety of policies, including the planned inheritance tax changes and cuts to farming subsidies.

See also: Farmers To Action launches day of national protests

Farmers Weekly chief reporter Philip Case covered a protest in Basingstoke, Hampshire, outside the Civic Hall, which was followed by a tractor procession through the streets. The event was met with positive reactions from both motorists and the public.

Farmers To Action is particularly concerned about the impact of the proposed 20% inheritance tax on farm assets, which is set to take effect in April 2026, potentially forcing many family farms to sell land or assets to pay the tax.

The group is campaigning for an end to all forms of inheritance tax.

Farmers are also raising alarms about the rising costs of production, the closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme to new applicants in England, and increasing regulatory burdens.

Carli Pike (centre), who runs a livery yard, with daughters Dilys and Connie at the Basingstoke protest © MAG/Philip Case

Food supply risk

The day of national action served to send a clear message to the Labour government: without greater support for farmers, the future of farming – and the food supply – is at risk.

Farmers To Action received messages of support from well-known farmers including Gareth Wyn-Jones, Clive Bailye and Andrew Ward, who joined a protest in Lincoln.

“The most pleasing thing today was seeing the likes of GWJ, Andrew Ward, and Clive Bailye from other farmer organisations getting behind Farmers To Action and sending a very clear message to the industry that it must unite,” said Tarquin de Meza and Justin Rogers, from Farmers To Action, in a joint statement.

“They took a major step forward to support what we are doing.”