Farmers protest live: Farage calls for end to âdeath taxesâ as tractors flood London
Hundreds have arrived in London to protest over Labourâ??s plans to introduce inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1m
Nigel Farage calls for end to âdeath taxesâ in his address to British farmers
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Tractors and tanks have descended on Westminster as farmers demand the Labour government rethinks its inheritance tax plan.
Hundreds have arrived from the countryside for a protest rally over plans to introduce a 20 per cent inheritance tax rate on farms worth more than £1m.
The event, organised by Save British Farming, is the third time farmers have rallied in the capital since chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the measure last year.
Ahead of speeches at 3.15pm, the farmers have parked up their tractors along Whitehall, with the stretch of vehicles going back as far as Trafalgar Square. Four tanks have also been spotted at the protest.
Protesters can be seen holding Union Jack flags and displaying banners in support of British farming.
So far, Labour has insisted it will not U-turn on its plans - but protest organiser Liz Webster told The Independent she hoped the action would bring ministers to the negotiation table.
She accused the government of âmarching into a food crisisâ.
The rally comes as MPs debate an e-petition with more than 148,000 signatures calling to keep the current inheritance tax exemptions for working farms.
Earlier, Nigel Farage called for an end to âdeath taxesâ in his address to British farmers on their way to the protest. Ms Webster said the Reform UK leader was not invited to the event, accusing him of âjumping on the bandwagonâ.
Farmers vow to âhauntâ government until change enacted
Reform UK leader calls for end of 'death taxes'
Pictured: Farmers and their tractors in north London
What are the changes to farm tax?
'Policy based on really, really flaky maths' - James Cleverly
Weâve come across James Cleverly, former home secretary under the last Tory government, at the march.
He tells journalists that if the changes in inheritance tax go ahead in April next year, some farms will close.
He says: âItâs a policy based on really, really flaky maths and a whole load of prejudice.
âIf it goes through farms will go under and if that happens, everyone will suffer.â
James Cleverly at the farmers' protest (Barney Davis)
Alex Ross10 February 2025 14:12
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice joins demonstration
(AFP via Getty Images )
(AFP via Getty Images )
Holly Evans10 February 2025 13:39
Watch: Nigel Farage calls for end to âdeath taxesâ in his address to British farmers
Nigel Farage calls for end to âdeath taxesâ in his address to British farmers
Holly Evans10 February 2025 13:25
In pictures: Tractors take over Whitehall
Tractors line up in Whitehall as part of the demonstration (Gareth Fuller/PA Wire )
Demonstrators have decked out their vehicles in banners and Union Jacks (James Manning/PA Wire)
One placard read âDonât trust Rachel Thieves from accountsâ (Getty Images )
Holly Evans10 February 2025 13:13
Tanks and tractors outside Parliament
Things are really stepping up now.
Tractors as far as the eye can see are lining up by Downing Street.
Farmers claim as many as 2,000 will take up Whitehall. They have unfurled UK flags and signs saying âWe need food not politiciansâ
Barney Davis 10 February 2025 13:10
'Run your country like a successful business', protester tells Starmer
Nick Mead drove his Abbot self propelled gun for seven hours to get to central London and support the farmers.
Speaking from his surprisingly ULEZ exempt 70 tonnes of rolling thunder, he told Sir Keir: âRun your country like a successful business. Donât just tax everything that is successful. You will drive it out of existence.â
He said: âThe movement is getting stronger. I heard there were 2,000 tractors coming down. is now coming for veterans pensions too. They are stifling business and taking money out of the country there is no investment.â
Nick Mead drove his Abbot self propelled gun for seven hours to get to central London ( The Independent)
Holly Evans10 February 2025 12:58
Why are Britainâs farmers protesting?
Thousands of farmers are expected to join a rally in Whitehall as they protest against the Labour governmentâs extension of inheritance tax to agricultural property.
Industry leaders say the plan, put forward by chancellor Rachel Reeves during her first Budget last October, is âmarching the UK into a food crisisâ.
Below, we look at why exactly the farmers are on strike.
Read the full article here:
Holly Evans10 February 2025 12:44
Military tanks join convoy in central London
A Met police officer gestures towards farmers supporters driving a military tank as they arrive in central London to take part in a farmer demonstration.
Farmers arriving on a tank to travel through central London (AFP via Getty Images )
(AFP via Getty Images )
Holly Evans10 February 2025 12:29
Tractors blast out popular pop songs ahead of rally
A number of tractors have stereos playing out music as they make their way to rally, with one blasting out Beastie Boysâ classic Fight For Your Right To Party.
Another has its horn altered to play Darudeâs club classic Sandstorm.
Tractors are blasting out music as they make their way through Whitehall (The Independent )
Barney Davis10 February 2025 12:19
First farmers begin to descend on Westminster
Farmers woke up at the crack of dawn to get their tractors to central London on time for another protest.
A convoy of farming vehicles beep their horns as they clog up traffic in the shadow of Big Ben. The tractors strike a bizarre sight amongst the usual red double deckers and open top tourist buses.
Protesters down early shared jokes with police officers as they jovially spoke about logistics of the march with a stage still to be assembled speeches due to begin.
One officer tells a farmer: âDonât worry we do this for a living. Protest wise we have seen it all. Imagine I was standing in your field for a day it would cause some disruption. But it will all be fine.â
One angry farming supplier who sold his Welsh farm for £1.4million last year after taking it over aged 15 when his father died, demanded Sir Keir is put on trial as a traitor over the inheritance tax.
Another supporter called on the protesters to follow radical French methods. The 74-year-old said: âI feel a revolution coming on.â
Barney Davis 10 February 2025 12:06
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