LONDON — British farmers are taking to the streets of Parliament on Tuesday, equipped with banners, bullhorns, toy tractors, and a strong message against the government’s proposed increase in inheritance tax, which they argue could severely impact struggling family farms.
Typically, U.K. farmers do not engage in mass protests as frequently as their continental counterparts, and Britain has avoided the large demonstrations recently seen in countries like France. However, farmers are now threatening to escalate their protests if the government remains unresponsive to their concerns.
“There’s a lot of frustration,” stated Olly Harrison, a co-organizer of the protest that aims to gather farmers outside Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office. Many farmers are eager to take strong action, with some expressing the desire to block roads as is common in France.
Protest organizers have requested that participants refrain from bringing actual farm vehicles into central London. Instead, children will lead a procession around Parliament Square on toy tractors after a rally that will include speakers such as former “Top Gear” presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who is also a farmer. Additionally, around 1,800 farmers are expected to partake in a “mass lobby” of legislators nearby, organized by the National Farmers’ Union.
The challenges facing U.K. farmers have been compounded by erratic weather linked to climate change, global political tensions, and the ramifications of Britain’s exit from the European Union in 2020. As a result, many farmers believe the government’s tax revisions, aimed at generating billions to support public services, represent an unbearable burden.
“We’ve lost money in four out of the last five years,” said Harrison, who cultivates cereal grains on his family’s farm near Liverpool. “The primary reason I continue is for my kids. Appreciation of the land allowed for some borrowing, but that security seems to have evaporated overnight.”
The controversy revolves around the government’s recent decision to eliminate a tax exemption for agricultural property that has been in place since the 1990s. Starting in April 2026, farms valued at over 1 million pounds ($1.3 million) will incur a 20% inheritance tax upon the owner’s death when passed to the next generation, which is significantly lower than the 40% tax rate applicable to other properties in the U.K.
Starmer’s government asserts that about 75% of farms will be unaffected by this tax change, and there are various loopholes allowing couples to transfer estates worth up to 3 million pounds ($3.9 million) to their heirs without incurring tax.
Proponents of the tax argue that it helps to reclaim funds from affluent individuals who have purchased agricultural land merely as an investment, which has led to surging farmland prices.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed commented that this “has become the most efficient way for the very wealthy to avoid inheritance taxes,” warning that high land values are making it increasingly difficult for young farmers to realize their dreams of farm ownership.
Nonetheless, the farmers’ union claims that over 60% of active farms could be adversely affected by the tax adjustments. While land may appear valuable, actual profits can be minimal. Official data indicates that income for various types of farms dropped in the year ending February 2024, with some experiencing declines of over 70%. Average farm earnings ranged from approximately 17,000 pounds ($21,000) for grazing livestock to 143,000 pounds ($180,000) for specialized poultry farms.
The past ten years have been tumultuous for U.K. farmers. A number initially supported Brexit as a means to escape the criticized complexities of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy. Since then, the U.K. has instituted changes aimed at compensating farmers for ecological restoration, biodiversity promotion, and food production.
While some farmers have embraced these new policies, many feel that continual government missteps, inadequate subsidies amid rising costs, and new trade agreements with countries like Australia and New Zealand permitting cheaper imports have eroded goodwill.
David Exwood, Deputy President of the National Farmers’ Union, remarked that the inheritance tax increase represents a “breaking point” after multiple challenges faced by farmers.
He expressed, “The government has completely lost the trust of the agricultural community.”
Despite the discontent, the government has affirmed its stance on the tax and political opposition parties see this as a chance to engage. The principal opposition Conservative Party, which led the country until July, along with the populist party Reform U.K., are both rallying behind the farmers. While some far-right groups have also shown support for Tuesday’s demonstration, the organizers are not associated with them.
Harrison concluded that the demonstration is intended as a “unified message to the government” and aims to inform the public that farmers should be recognized as essential food producers rather than wealthy tax-evaders.
“This issue resonates across the entire agricultural sector—everyone, from landowners to tenants, and those involved in beef, dairy, grains, or vegetables, is feeling the impact,” he asserted.
“All farmers are facing difficulties.”