Tractors arrive in Whitehall for farmers’ protest on Budget day despite police ban
Despite a ban on farm machinery by the Met Police, farmers drove their tractors into Whitehall to protest against inheritance tax on Budget day.
Organizers say the demonstration is the latest protest against measures introduced by Rachel Reeves last year to impose a 20 per cent inheritance tax on agricultural estates worth more than £1 million.
And it came as the chancellor prepared to deliver his second budget, with economic productivity slowing and tax rises expected.
By 9.30am more than a dozen tractors were parked outside Parliament and more tractors were seen arriving in the area; some include “idiots vote Labour” and “beep if you eat!” There were signs with messages like:
A farmer was dressed as Santa Claus, his tractor carrying a large spruce tree and a banner that read: “Farmer’s Christmas – naughty list: Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves, David Lammy, Diane Abbott, Angela Rayner and the BBC.”
As traffic came to a halt during rush hour, they honked tractor horns repeatedly while police stood guard.
The collection of agricultural machinery is taking place despite the Met Police placing restrictions on them; he just lets them stay in Richmond Terrace.
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A force spokesman said: “Although people can still demonstrate, conditions have been put in place to prevent protesters from bringing vehicles, including tractors or other agricultural equipment, to the protest.
“This decision has been taken due to the serious disruption they could cause to the local area, including to businesses, emergency services and Londoners going about their day.”
Protest organizer Dan Willis, a Berkshire farmer, accused police of pouring gasoline on a “tinderbox situation” and also claimed it was “impossible to stop farmers from coming at this stage”.
The 50-year-old told Telegram: “The Metropolitan Police, who have been extremely supportive throughout the whole process, now have orders from higher up not to have a static display in Whitehall. Instead they have offered us a small piece of land and no tractors are allowed.”
“This is a highly emotional issue. We have farmers and most of them [their homes] “They were due to travel around the country yesterday and head to London and unfortunately they have now put us in an impossible situation.”
Telegram He reported that between 1,500 and 2,000 tractors went to London to protest.
Farmers say inheritance tax will impact family businesses and future generations will be forced to sell their land to pay the tax. This comes as direct payments to farmers are being phased out following Brexit and replaced by environmentally focused subsidies.
David Gunn, a farmer and agricultural contractor based near Sevenoaks in Kent, said: “Inheritance tax is one reason why [I am protesting]It will cripple farmers, small family farmers.
“There’s all these other taxes they put on us, the prices we charge for our products and the cost in the store, we don’t make any money. Then there’s food insecurity, farmers are out of work.”
Farmer Mark Watler, of Grantham, Lincolnshire, said: “Inheritance tax is just the tip of the iceberg. We don’t do it for the money, it’s a passion. We just want a fair deal.”
