Jeremy Clarkson has urged Rachel Reeves to admit her proposed inheritance tax hikes for farmers was a “mistake” and to back down.
Speaking to protesters on stage in Whitehall, the TV presenter said: “For the sake of everybody here, and all the farmers stuck at home today paralysed by a fog of despair by what’s been foisted upon them, I beg the government to accept this was rushed through, wasn’t thought out, and was a mistake.”
He has joined farmers for a large-scale protest in London on Tuesday to urge the government to change course over its plans, which have been described as a “stab in the back”.
First unveiled in chancellor Rachel Reeves’s Budget, the plans to impose inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1m have sparked fury among rural communities, who have contested the government’s assertion that small family farms will not be impacted by the changes.
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has organised an event in which 1,800 of its members will meet with local MPs at Westminster to voice their anger on Tuesday.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw said an estimated 75 per cent of commercial farm businesses “were caught in the eye of this storm” of a policy which will “rip the heart of family farms”.
Key Points
- Jeremy Clarkson urges government to admit ‘mistake’ and back down
- Starmer responds to farmer protests from G20 summit
- Why are farm owners demonstrating over inheritance tax?
- 165 MPs meeting NFU members at mass lobby
- Labour has destroyed ‘contract’ between farmers and government
Jeremy Clarkson says farmers took a ‘hammer blow to the head'
14:13
Holly Evans
Addressing the farmers’ protest in Westminster, TV presenter and farmer Jeremy Clarkson said he had come to understand about farming how “unbelievably difficult it is, and dangerous, and cold”.
Farmers faced costs, pressure from environmentalists and regulations, and “we have all these complications and costs, and there’s very little money in it as you know – and then we got the Budget”, he said, to boos from the crowd.
“I know a lot of people across the country in all walks of life took a bit of a kick on the shin with that Budget. You lot got a knee in the nuts and a hammer blow to the back of the head.”
How many farmers will be affected by the inheritance tax changes?
14:01
Athena Stavrou
Labour says three-quarters of estates will not be affected by the upcoming changes, but campaigners have taken issue with this, reports my colleague Albert Toth.
According to Treasury analysis, around 500 estates will be impacted by the changes, with just the top 7 per cent of claims accounting for 40 per cent of the total value of the relief fund.
A release from the department adds: “It is not fair for a very small number of claimants each year to claim such a significant amount of relief, when this money could better be used to fund our public services.”
However, the Country Land and Business Association has said it is closer to 70,000 farms that will be affected. The new measure will mean “damaging family businesses and destabilising food security,” they add.
Economists have said this figure is slightly misleading. The 70,000 number does not reflect how many estates will have to pay inheritance tax each year, but rather how many are could be valued at over £1m today.
Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) says: “The changes will affect a remarkably small number of some of the most valuable farms.”
Why are farm owners demonstrating over inheritance tax?
13:53
Athena Stavrou
From April 2026, landowners who inherit agricultural assets worth more than £1m will have to pay 20 per cent inheritance tax (IHT) on them. These assets were previously entirely exempt from the tax under the agricultural property relief law.
Under the new rules, the 20 per cent levy – which is half of the standard 40 per cent rate – will be charged on assets above the £1 million threshold only. Also unlike regular IHT, the levy can be paid in interest-free instalments over a ten-year period.
The exemption is stacked with other IHT relief measures. Inheritance tax is already not paid if the value of the estate being passed on is worth under £325,000, plus £175,000 for a home under certain conditions.
For a farm owned by two people, this means the effective tax-free amount passed on is £3m when combining both their allowances plus each getting the £1m agricultural relief.
My colleague Albert Toth has more details here:
Pictures from today’s protest
13:44
Athena Stavrou
Farmers head to the pub after protest
13:31
Athena Stavrou
My colleague Barney Davis reports from Whitehall:
There was lots of chatter amid the herds of dissipating farmers about which pub to visit now the speeches have ended.
Jack Greenaway from Devon said the protest was a tremendous success as he heads off to the pub with friends.
He was audibly shocked when I tell him that it is around £7 for a Guinness in the capital. “How much? Bloody hell. It’s £4 where I’m from you will have to come down my way.”
Farmers who ploughed through barriers in tractors to be reported
13:23
Athena Stavrou
The Metropolitan Police said tractor drivers who ploughed through barriers at the farmers’ protests in central London will be reported.
A red tractor drove over a traffic cone and through a no entry sign on Whitehall at about midday on Tuesday. Another blue tractor entered the protest area behind it.
In a post on X, Scotland Yard said: “We’ve been engaging with those who brought tractors today and had no concerns with them driving around.
“However, driving over a police barrier line is not acceptable and the drivers will be reported for the offence.”
We’ve been engaging with those who brought tractors today and had no concerns with them driving around.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 19, 2024
However driving over a police barrier line is not acceptable and the drivers will be reported for the offence. https://t.co/XWHvXGHALp
Huge crowd told to split as farmers praise police
13:18
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s Barney Davis reports from Whitehall:
Crowds have been told to split and leave Whitehall in two different directions due to the sheer size of the protest.
Huge cheers have been heard for the Metropolitan Police for making the event safe.
Starmer responds to farmer protests from G20 summit
13:11
Athena Stavrou
The prime minister has responded to claims that the new Labour budget is waging a “class war” as thousands of farmers descend on Whitehall to protest changes to inheritance tax.
Speaking to Sky News from the G20 summit in Rio, Brazil, he insisted that the “vast majority will be unaffected” by the policy and added that he “wants to support farming”.
He said: “Where people are over that threshold, the tax is 20% - so half of what everybody else pays.”
When asked if the tax policies around farming and private schools is encouraging a class war, he said: “No, absolutely not. It isn’t at all what we’re doing.”
Family farm is facing a ‘lottery on death’
13:03
Holly Evans
A young farmer said his family are facing a “lottery on death” because of changes in the Budget.
Oliver Atkinson, a mixed farmer who grows crops and keeps livestock in East Hampshire, said changes to inheritance tax on farms will be “a huge burden”.
The 28-year-old said: “We are here not just for the inheritance act, but there’s a lot of other things that the public don’t know about that the Government has brought in like a carbon tax on fertiliser, which grows 40 per cent of the world’s food. We can’t do without it.
“There are TB issues, there’s the inheritance tax which will be a huge burden.”
Mr Atkinson, who is a fifth-generation family farmer, said: “There is a lottery on death. I farm with my brother – if one of us dies early, then half the farm technically would then get a 20% tax.”
David Cameron voices support for farmers
12:58
Holly Evans
David Cameron has joined former prime ministers in voicing his support for the agricultural community, sharing a picture of himself engaging in discussions with farmers.
In a tweet, he wrote: “I’m proud to back our British farmers today.
Living in - and having represented - a rural constituency, I know full well that family farmers are the lifeblood of our rural economy, working night and day and through generations to provide the country with food.
“Labour’s ill-thought-through tax changes will destroy their livelihoods and put British farming at risk. Let’s all show our support for British farmers today.”
I’m proud to back our British farmers today. Living in - and having represented - a rural constituency, I know full well that family farmers are the lifeblood of our rural economy, working night and day and through generations to provide the country with food.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) November 19, 2024
Labour’s… pic.twitter.com/Rxf6PckzWH
Jeremy Clarkson urges government to admit ‘mistake’ and back down
12:51
Holly Evans
Former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has taken to the stage in Westminster, urging the Labour government to admit that their policy change “was a mistake”.
He said: “For the sake of everybody here, and all the farmers stuck at home today paralysed by a fog of despair by what’s been foisted upon them, I beg the government to accept this was rushed through, wasn’t thought out, and was a mistake.
“That’s the big thing to do - admit it, and back down.”
The TV star bought a farm as part of his Amazon TV show Clarkson’s Farm, and told the crowd that running a farm “costs a fortune” due to the price of equipment and upkeep.
He stressed there’s “very little money” in farming and was met with boos from the crowd when he referenced the budget.
Downing Street says Treasury has had engagement with the NFU
12:42
Holly Evans
In response to calls for Rachel Reeves to meet farmers, Downing Street insisted the Treasury had been in contact with them about the inheritance tax changes.
A No 10 spokeswoman said: “As I understand, the Treasury has had engagement with the NFU. Meetings are otherwise for the Chancellor and her team to set out.
“For the PM’s part, he met with the NFU, I think, in Downing Street in his early weeks in office and regularly engages with all sectors.”
Environment Secretary Steve Reed met the NFU’s president on Monday night and will address the Country Land and Business Association on Thursday, the spokeswoman added.
Kemi Badenoch says she will reverse ‘obviously cruel’ tax
12:39
Holly Evans
Kemi Badenoch has taken to the stage at the farmer tax protest in Westminster, saying that they are “carrying the burden for the whole country”.
“We know how this tax will destroy your way of life,” says the Tory leader, as she pledged to reverse it if her party get back into power.
“This policy is so obviously unfair, so obviously cruel, and we will do everything we can - if they do not U-turn now - to reverse this tax.”
Politicians pictured joining protest in Whitehall
12:33
Holly Evans
Tenant farmer says ‘every single farmer’ affected by Budget
12:28
Holly Evans
A tenant farmer who joined the protest in central London said “every single farmer” in his area will be affected by changes in the Budget.
Daniel Spours, a tenant farmer from north Northumberland, travelled to Whitehall to protest against changes to inheritance tax and carbon rules which he said will affect the price of fertiliser.
Mr Spours said: “We are about £60,000 worse off next year from payments that have been slashed by the Government.
“Going forward, there is more taxes to come on fertiliser that’s going to affect us hugely as well, so it’s looking pretty grim.”
Rachel Reeves confirmed Government plans to introduce the UK Carbon Border Adjustment from 1 January 2027, which Mr Spours said will impact the price of fertiliser.
“I’m not a farm owner,” Mr Spours. “I’m just a tenant, but we still will be impacted by business property relief.”
Born to Farm: Dozens of budding farmers take their tiny tractors for a spin around Parliament Square
12:25
Barney Davis
Somerset farmer brings young daughter to protest
12:22
Holly Evans
“If Labour wins on this, it’ll be the end of eight generations of farming in my family,” says dairy farmer Victoria Diamond.
The Somerset farmer says she and her husband won’t be able to afford an expected £200k inheritance levy on the family farm.
She’s come to the protest with her daughter Ivy Lee, aged just 22 months old.
“We want to keep the farm going in the family, we are farmers, but this measure will end it all, how could we afford £200k when we are already in the red,” she says.
Nigel Farage reportedly blocked from giving speech
12:18
Holly Evans
Nigel Farage has reportedly been blocked from speaking at the farming protest by the organisers over concerns that he “might make it all about himself”.
The Reform UK leader arrived at the organised event wearing a waxed jacket, wellington boots, a mustard trousers.
While other politicians from other parties, such as Dame Priti Patel, have been invited to take to the stage, Farage’s offer has reportedly been rejected.
A source told The Times: “He has been trying to be allowed to speak but we are getting told by lots of people not to let him because he might try to make it all about himself.”
Queues form to lobby MPs as streets line up with farmers and tourists
12:10
Alex Ross
Road closures can be seen around outside Westminster Hall as several tractors pass with banners displayed attacking Labour, Alex Ross reports.
A double decker red bus also circles the area flying Reform UK flags - despite protest organisers urging people to keep the protest non political.
So far, streets are lined with a mix of photographers, farmers and bemused tourists.
Portcullis House, opposite Westminster Hall, is one of the locations NFU members are lobbying MPs.
Here’s the queue outside to get through security. One farmer jokes “they must be scared of us”.
In pictures: Thousands gather in Westminster for protest
12:00
Holly Evans
Boris Johnson says tax is ‘spiteful and punitive’
11:55
Holly Evans
Boris Johnson is among the number of public figures criticising the family farm tax, labelling it as a “demented” policy.
In a post on X, the former prime minister wrote: “Good luck to everyone protesting today against Labour’s demented family farm tax.
“Farmers work all hours and all year round to feed this country. We should be doing more to champion British food and keep our farmers on the land.
“Instead Reeves is clobbering British agriculture with a tax that is spiteful and punitive and economically disastrous. End it now.”
Good luck to everyone protesting today against Labour’s demented family farm tax. Farmers work all hours and all year round to feed this country. We should be doing more to champion British food and keep our farmers on the land. Instead Reeves is clobbering British agriculture…
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 19, 2024
Farmers operate on ‘tight margins’ and are ‘very cash-poor’, says minister
11:50
Holly Evans
Shadow trade minister Greg Smith has said the Government “just don’t understand” that farmers operate on “really tight margins”.
“They don’t have a million quid sat in the bank to pay a random tax bill,” he said: “The only way they can meet that bill is by selling land.”
He said that farms are “incredibly asset-rich but very, very cash-poor” and the changes would mean that businesses are “potentially not viable at all”.
Asked whether farming became harder under regulations legislated for by the Tories, he said: “It’s definitely changed, because we went from the Common Agricultural Policy to a new system, and that system is being transitioned in slowly, and change is something that is very, very difficult.
“And, yes, there have been some additional environmental regulations and schemes that have been layered in on top to meet the 2050 net zero target, which the last government indeed legislated for.
“What we’ve got to do now, though, and I’ve always been clear on this, is find that happy medium that still prioritises food production.”
In pictures: Reform UK leader speaking to farmers
11:48
Holly Evans
More protests will take place across the country, farmers warn
11:42
Millie Cooke
Ollie Atkinson, a farmer from Hampshire, warned that further regional action will be taken following on from today’s protest if the government doesn’t backtrack.
Christopher Moar, a friend of Mr Atkinson who travelled to London in support of the protest, said the rural community “feels like they were lied to” by Rachel Reeves.
“There is huge amounts of support for farmers across the country”, Mr Atkinson told The Independent, saying he expects further demonstrations to take place outside of London.
The farmer added that there is concern among the agricultural community that NFU chief Tom Bradshaw won’t do what is needed to force the government’s hand, suggesting he needs to take a tougher approach in his talks with ministers.
Nigel Farage has been pictured joining protest
11:40
Holly Evans
Nigel Farage joins farmers protesting in central London over the changes to inheritance tax (IHT) rules in the recent budget which introduce new taxes on farms worth more than £1 million.
Met Police estimate 10,000 protesters have arrived in Westminster
11:36
Holly Evans
In a post on social media site X, the Metropolitan Police said: “The event is underway in Whitehall with no issues to report.
“Both lanes are closed south of Horse Guards. Diversions are in place and motorists are advised to use other routes.
“It’s always difficult to calculate an exact attendance figure for these events, but we estimate that there are now in excess of 10,000 people present in Whitehall with more arriving.”
| We'll post updates about today's protest by farmers on this thread.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 19, 2024
The event is underway in Whitehall with no issues to report. Both lanes are closed south of Horse Guards.
Diversions are in place and motorists are advised to use other routes. pic.twitter.com/N4O3KBWZfB
Farmer takes aim at ‘reaper’ Rachel Reeves with cardboard sign
11:34
Barney Davis
One farmer from Essex has had a go at working Rachel Reeves into a slogan.
He says the sign depicting the Chancellor as the grim reaper was supposed to be on the front of his tractor but he wasn’t allowed to drive it in.
“Getting it on the tube was a nightmare.”
Sadly, Rachel Reaper Killing Feeders doesn’t roll off the tongue like Farmer Harmer Starmer.
Jeremy Clarkson joins farmers’ ‘tractor tax’ protest
11:27
Holly Evans
TV presenter says Rachel Reeves has used a ‘blunderbuss’ to target farmers
11:24
Holly Evans
TV presenter and journalist Jeremy Clarkson said Rachel Reeves has used a “blunderbuss” to hit farmers as he arrived in London to protest against changes to agricultural inheritance tax.
Walking towards the protest in Westminster on Tuesday morning, he joked that he was in London to do “a bit of Christmas shopping” before saying: “I’m here to support the farmers, it’s that simple, because they need all the help they can get really, even from me.”
Asked about his comments in an interview with the Times in 2021 that avoiding inheritance tax was “the critical thing” in his decision to buy land, he said: “That’s actually quite funny because the real reason I bought the farm was because I wanted to shoot, so I thought if I told a bunch of people that I bought a farm so I could shoot pheasants it might look bad.
“So, I thought I better come up with another excuse, so I said inheritance tax. I actually didn’t know about inheritance tax until after I bought it. I didn’t mind, obviously, but the real reason I bought it is because I wanted to shoot.”
He said he opposed the tax changes, adding: “If she’d have wanted to take out the likes of James Dyson and investment bankers and so on, she would have used a sniper’s rifle, but she’s used a blunderbuss and she’s hit all this lot.
“It was – as I understand it – it was a very rushed last-minute decision and I think we all make mistakes in life, and I think it’s time for them to say ‘you know what, we’ve cocked this one up a bit’ and back down.”
Shadow chancellor says Labour ‘doesn’t understand the countryside’
11:20
Holly Evans
Shadow chancellor Mel Stride said the Government “broke its promise” in imposing inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1 million.
Speaking at a photocall of Tory MPs and farmers as a large-scale protest kicked off in London over the changes, Mr Stride said: “We’re doing this to show solidarity with our farmers.
“We believe that this Government doesn’t understand the countryside or farming, broke its promise when it said that it would not be imposing inheritance tax on farms, it has now done that.
“That’s going to have a devastating impact on the farming sector up and down the country with family farms broken up.”
Mr Stride defended the Tories’ approach to the industry after some farmers claimed regulations brought in under the Conservatives have made the profession harder.
Farmers on tractors drive through Westminster ahead of protests
11:16
Holly Evans
First generation farmer breaks down in tears talking about financial struggles
11:15
Barney Davis
A farmer has broken down in tears as she speaks about hardships of farm life in south Wales.
Caroline Green, a first generation sheep and cattle farmer, says she now doesn’t want her son to take over the business as costs skyrocket.
She took over her farm after it was repossessed from a family and she fears the same will happen to her.
“There was no gate, no roof, no fencing neighbors cattle would just roam through. We built it up to a nice place we want to live and now the same could happen to us.”
Steve Reed stresses that only ‘the very wealthiest’ will face tax hikes
11:09
Holly Evans
Environment Secretary Steve Reed has suggested that wealthy landowners who are the target of the tax change could plan to minimise their exposure.
He said: “The only ones that will be affected – it will be around 500 – will be the very wealthiest or the biggest farms.
“They can plan their tax affairs just like any other business plans their tax affairs as well.”
He added: “The vast majority of farms will not be affected by these changes to inheritance tax, but it’s only right that we ask the very wealthiest to pay their fair share, otherwise we can’t fix services like the National Health Service that farmers rely on and people living in rural communities, just like everybody else.”
Asked what his message to celebrity farmer Jeremy Clarkson was, Mr Reed said: “It’s very important that we listen to farmers, but I would say to farmers, this Government is backing farming in the UK. “
Sir Keir Starmer branded a ‘farmer harmer’ by crowds
11:08
Barney Davis
Hundreds of farmers bussed from all over the country have now taken over Whitehall.
Some drinking whisky from a hip flask to keep their hands warm in the bitter November weather.
Many are angry at Sir Keir Starmer who has been branded a “farmer harmer”.
‘Please back down’, says Jeremy Clarkson to Labour government
11:03
Holly Evans
Jeremy Clarkson - who runs Diddly Squat Farm in Chipping Norton - is at the farming inheritance tax protest in Westminster.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Clarkson was asked what his message is to the government.
“Please, back down,” he said simply.
Asked how bad this could be for farmers, he said: “It’s the end.”
Steve Reed dismisses claims Labour doesn’t understand farmers
10:59
Holly Evans
Environment Secretary Steve Reed dismissed claims from critics that Labour did not understand the countryside.
He said: “This Labour Government has just allocated £5 billion to support sustainable food production in the UK.
“That’s the biggest budget of that kind in our country’s history and it shows that we’re backing farmers.
“We’ve gone further than that as well, £60 million to help farmers affected by flooding, we’re going to cut farmers’ energy bills by setting up GB Energy, we’re going to seek a new trade deal with the European Union so we can get food exports moving across the border again and we’re launching the first-ever cross-government rural crime strategy.
“All of that shows farmers that this is a government on their side and the changes to inheritance tax will affect only around 500 farms. The vast majority of farmers will pay nothing more.”
Tom Bradshaw suggests farmers could take more exreme action over tractor tax
10:56
Holly Evans
Asked “what happens next” following today’s planned events, NFU chief Tom Bradshaw hinted at further, more extreme action from farmers, saying: “I think you’ll have all seen the media reports about what farmers across the United Kingdom think they should be doing next.”
It comes as farmers have threatened the government with “militant action” over the policy, which they argue will cause food shortages and the breakup of family farms.
“The ball is in the government’s court”, Mr Bradshaw warned. “They have to be the ones that now decide how they react to this.”
Speaking to journalists at the NFU mass lobby event in Westminster, he added: “I don’t want any of our customers any of our consumers not able to get the food they desperately need. But I also understand why emotions are running so high.
“I’ve never seen an industry that’s been betrayed the way this one is today. The anger, the mistrust, the disillusionment, the worry – how is that what this policy was designed to deliver?”
Environment secretary insists only about 500 farms will be affected
10:51
Holly Evans
Environment Secretary Steve Reed has insisted that only a few hundred farms would be impacted, rather than the tens of thousands claimed by critics of the inheritance tax change.
He told the PA news agency: “The Government’s been very clear: about 500 farms will be affected and the vast majority of farms will pay nothing more under the new scheme.
“That figure has been validated now by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility and by the independent financial think tank the IFS.
“There are all sorts of other figures flying around that I don’t recognise.
“If farmers look at the facts they will see the vast majority of them will pay nothing more under the new scheme than they did under the old scheme.”
Kemi Badenoch says tax could be ‘end of British farming'
10:48
Holly Evans
Kemi Badenoch has joined farmers and Conservative MPs outside the Houses of Parliament ahead of the large-scale protest.
In a tweet on social media, the party leader wrote: “Farmers are saying one thing: reverse this farm tax, or it’s the end of British farming as we know it, and the end of thousands of jobs and generations of knowledge.”
Farmers are saying one thing: reverse this farm tax, or it’s the end of British farming as we know it, and the end of thousands of jobs and generations of knowledge. ⁰⁰Help us stop Labour’s callous decision: https://t.co/UhUrGihxGV pic.twitter.com/o87whf3wN2
— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) November 19, 2024
‘Reeves is refusing to engage’: NFU chief suggests Cabinet division over tractor tax
10:45
Millie Cooke
Tom Bradshaw has suggested there is Cabinet division over the hated tractor tax, claiming that Rachel Reeves has entirely “refused to engage” with farmers on the policy.
Asked by The Independent whether he believes there is a disconnect between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Treasury, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) chief said: “The very fact that we’re even arguing about the figures suggests that the foundations of this policy are very weak. We know that Defra figures show something very different to Treasury figures. Treasury are obviously working off historic claims.”
After meeting with environment secretary Steve Reed last night, he said it was clear that Defra was “not consulted” about the policy.
“There’s probably some very interesting conversations going on behind closed doors that we’re not privy to”, he added.
Police ‘undermines’ farmers ability to produce more food
10:44
Holly Evans
NFU president Tom Bradshaw told members: “We know that the public are overwhelmingly supporting farmers, the second most trusted profession.”
“They want to buy more British products but this policy undermines your ability to produce more food,” he said, urging farmers to thank members of the public for their support.
“But your key job today is to look your own MPs in the eye, make them understand what this policy means to you and the price they will pay politically if they toe the party line, in Westminster, in Cardiff, in Edinburgh, in Belfast, this policy has to be changed.
“Our request is very simple, this is a policy that will rip the heart out of Britain’s family farms, launched on bad data with no consultation, and it must be halted and considered properly.”
Police surround Whitehall streets as crowds gather
10:43
Barney Davis, in Whitehall
More police arrive to keep the hundreds of farmers spilling into the active road in Whitehall.
“You’re not needed here”, one farmer tells an officer who replies “It’s for your safety sir”.
The crowds are preventing trucks loaded with food bank donations to take off to the annoyance of organizers.
It’s a sea of tweed and flat caps and despite their obvious anger at the proposed inheritance tax crowds are good natured.
Pictured: Jeremy Clarkson arriving in central London to join farmers
10:36
Holly Evans
In pictures: Tory leader Kemi Badenoch joins protest outside Westminster
10:26
Holly Evans
NFU president urges government to get to ‘logical position'
10:23
Holly Evans
NFU president Tom Bradshaw says 75 per cent of working farms will be caught within the scope of the change in inheritance tax.
He urges the government not to waste political energy on a policy that “will rip the rug under the very people who will deliver food security”,
“Let’s start from scratch and get to a logical position”, he urges the government.
Met deny ‘tractor ban’
10:18
Holly Evans
The Metropolitan Police have denied that they tried to ban tractors from the event. A spokesperson said: “We are aware of speculation online that we have tried to ban tractors from the event. This isn’t true — we’ve policed protests involving tractors previously without any major issues and we have plans in place to do so again if required.”
Officers have had “positive discussions” with organisers and are “well-prepared for the protest”, the spokesperson added.
“We will have officers deployed in the vicinity to ensure the event takes place safely, lawfully and in a way that prevents serious disruption.”
Watch: Tractors arrive in Westminster ahead of protests
10:16
Holly Evans
150 MPs in attendance at Church House to answer to angry farmers
10:14
Millie Cooke
Around 150 members of parliament from across all parties are expected to attend Church House in Westminster to answer to angry famers over the government’s decision to extend inheritance tax to agricultural properties, the National Farmers’ Union estimates.
The union, led by Essex arable farmer Tom Bradshaw, is hosting a mass lobby event on Tuesday morning, with more than 1,000 members showing up to explain the impact of the “tractor tax” on their livelihoods.
NFU sources told The Independent that their most up to date estimate is that around 150 MPs will be in attendance throughout the morning, but they stressed the actual figure could be higher than that.
How out of pocket will farmers actually be?
10:09
Holly Evans
Farmers are preparing for their biggest protest so far over the government’s proposals to include them in inheritance tax, as they prepare to gather in Westminster on Tuesday.
In the weeks since chancellor Rachel Reeves’s announcement, farmers and their representatives have been lobbying hard to have the inheritance tax decision overturned.
The government wants farmers to pay the tax on assets above £1m apiece at a new rate of 20 per cent.
Read the full analysis here:
