Thousands of British farmers descended on London on Monday, bringing tractors—and even a tank—to the streets of Westminster. The protest, organised by Save British Farming, was aimed at the Labour government’s controversial inheritance tax reforms, which will see a 20% levy imposed on farms worth more than £1 million starting in April 2026.
Whitehall, the road which is the centre of government power in Britain, was completely blocked as farmers honked their horns and displayed banners condemning the policy as an existential threat to British agriculture. Signs reading “No Farms, No Food, No Future” and “Labour Are Liars” captured the anger and desperation of a community that feels abandoned by the government.
What is Inheritance Tax?
In the UK, inheritance tax is typically applied to assets passed down by generation. Over time, increasing house prices have meant more people are obliged to pay the tax following a bereavement. Farms were exempt, as typically they continued to work as family enterprises, passed down historically from father to son.
The proposed changes to inheritance tax would remove the existing exemptions for agricultural property, forcing farming families to sell land just to cover tax bills. Labour claims that the reform is necessary to repair public finances, but farmers argue it is a fundamental misunderstanding of the agricultural economy. While farms may be valued highly due to land prices, they are often cash-poor, with narrow profit margins that make it impossible to afford such taxation without liquidating vital assets.
Jeff Gibson of Kent Fairness for Farmers summarised the frustration, stating
Food security is national security. The government must listen before it’s too late.
europeanconservative.com spoke to farmers at the protest on Monday. Michael, a third-generation sheep farmer from Cumbria, said the changes were a “death sentence” for family farms like his.
My father and grandfather built this place with their bare hands, and now the government expects me to sell it just to pay their bill. They don’t understand farming—we’re asset-rich, but cash-poor. If they don’t reverse this, they’ll see British food production collapse before their eyes.
Meanwhile, Sophie, a young dairy farmer from Gloucestershire, said she grew up dreaming of taking over the family farm—but now that may be impossible.
We’re not wealthy landowners; we’re workers, up before dawn and still going after dark to keep Britain fed. If this tax isn’t stopped, thousands of young farmers like me will be forced out, and once these farms are gone, they’re gone for good.
Earlier in the day, Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, made a passionate plea at Belmont Farm in north London, calling for an end to “death taxes.” Speaking at the Farmers To Action campaign event, Farage said, “No to death taxes full stop. End death taxes. They are wrong. They are immoral at every level.” He emphasised that inheritance tax unfairly penalises families who have already paid taxes throughout their lives.
Farage also pointed out that 100 Labour MPs now represent rural constituencies, warning that their inaction on this issue could cost them dearly in the next election.
The London protest is just the latest in a wave of farmer-led demonstrations across Europe. From France to Germany, farmers have been blocking roads and staging mass protests against policies that threaten their way of life. However, while much of the European unrest has centred on environmental regulations, fuel taxes, and proposed free trade deal, British farmers are primarily battling financial devastation caused by inheritance tax reform. The common thread, though, is a growing sense of betrayal by governments that claim to support domestic agriculture but enact policies that make it unsustainable.
This is not the first time British farmers have taken their grievances to Westminster. A similar demonstration took place in December, with over 650 tractors rolling into London. That protest was a warning shot, but today’s gathering is significantly larger and more determined. As Save British Farming founder Liz Webster put it, “Every time we come back, we get bigger. We are not going away.”
As MPs debate the inheritance tax changes in Parliament, the farming community has made it clear that this fight is far from over. Webster has warned that if the government refuses to engage in meaningful discussions, further action, including potential supply chain disruptions, could be on the horizon.
For now, one thing is certain: Britain’s farmers will not go quietly.
