Farmers moved to desperation by a “tractor tax” which they warn will mean the end of many family farms are today staging a rare demonstration in Westminster.
Up to 40,000 people are expected to attend, including 1,800 members of the National Farmers Union (NFU)—which has accused the Labour government of “betrayal” after it removed the inheritance tax relief for farms—and at least 15,000 people registered thanks to ‘farming influencers.’
Some big national names, including Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear and, more recently, Clarkson’s Farm, will be among the ranks.
Prime minister Keir Starmer says he will stand by the new 20% levy “all day long,” despite the immense national backlash. Another senior cabinet minister suggested that farmers would view the tax as “fair,” if only they would “check the facts.” The NFU insists, however, that “the evidence that this decision is based on is weak.”
Over in France, farmers have been protesting against the Mercosur free trade agreement between the EU and South American countries by blocking roads and dumping manure. The leader of one demonstration said he would be happy to give his British counterparts a hand during their own demo today:
I’m prepared to receive my British farmer colleagues or to travel over there to lend a hand. We have a lot of form when it comes to more radical forms of protest. We’re all in the same boat.
British farmers also took their frustrations to the Welsh Labour Party conference over the weekend.
Our assistant news editor Nick Hallett will be at the demonstration in London and will be reporting on events for The European Conservative later today.
