Farmers could cause travel disruption across the country today as they take to A-roads in a “final show of strength” before this week’s Autumn Budget. Agricultural workers in areas including Devon, Somerset, Oxford, Northampton, Suffolk and Derbyshire are taking a stand in defiance of the Government’s plans to introduce a 20% inheritance tax on the sector from next April.
The widespread demonstration, which organisers say will take place on several main roads for maximum visibility, has been organised by a number of local groups, spearheaded by East Anglian Farmers United.
A spokesperson for the British Farm Network described the ‘Day of Unity’ as “a final show of strength before a budget that could further devastate British farming”. “This is about more than tax – it’s about keeping British farming alive for the next generation,” they added.
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‘Starmer is a w***er’ and ‘Labour out’
Tractors with messages calling for the government to backtrack on plans for a 20% inheritance tax on agricultural assets worth over £1 million are continuing to bring traffic around the UK to a crawl amid a nationwide ‘Day of Unity’ protest.
Signs attached to vehicles in Lincolnshire included calls for Labour to be ousted from power and labelled the Prime Minister a “w***er’.
Farmers are bringing traffic across the country to a crawl as part of today’s protest (Image: Taron Lee)
Desperate farmers fear for ‘survival’ as budget looms
A survey of 200 horticulture farmers comissioned by Riverford has found that many small and medium businesses are afraid of being pushed to breaking point by rising costs, supermarket pressures and prospective tax changes.
69% said they believe their relationships with retailers have deteriorated, and almost as many say earning a living from farming has never been more challenging.
Guy Singh Watson, founder of Riverford, said: “Farming shouldn’t feel like survival. How can farmers care for soil, livestock, and workers if they are squeezed for every penny?”
Farmers in Oxford declare Labour ‘rural business killer’
Tractors have taken to roads around Oxford as part of today’s protests, with signs bearing messages including “Keir Starmer farmer harmer” and “Labour = the rural business killer”.
Protests ‘an essential way’ to show ‘feeling of industry’
Farmers at today’s protests have spoken about their motivations for taking part in the go-slow demonstrations ahead of Wednesday’s budget.
Richard Wrinch, a farmer from Shotley, Suffolk, said he thinks “most of the population” understand where the campaigners “are coming from”.
“It keeps the profile there, it shows the unity of our industry about I think that it is essential to keep those who have got an influence on decisions aware of the feeling of the agriculture industry,” he said.
Will Hitchcock, from Ringshall, added that he felt compelled to speak up “for the greater good of everyone involved, not just farmers”.
“No end of other businesses depend on farmers, it is society as a whole,” he said. “We are producing food for people. Everyone eats three times a day, we are here for them.”
Farmer threatens to ‘shut the country down’ if ‘budget goes badly’
A fourth-generation farmer from Hampshire, who is one of hundreds of agricultural workers from southern England who have travelled to Southampton today, has warned that they will be up in arms if this week’s Autumn Budget “goes badly”.
“We’re outside Southampton Docks to show our anger about the Labour Government not changing their plans on the IHT,” he said.
“And we’re sending them a warning shot that if this next budget goes badly, we’re going to be out in force and we will shut the country down.”
Traffic crawls behind ‘slow moving’ tractor convoys in Lincolnshire
Footage shared on X shows long queues of traffic building behind tractor convoys in Lincolnshire, with the vehicles decked in English flags and signs urging people to “back British farming” and get “Labour out”.
Farmers in southern England head for Southampton
A convoy of tractors has been caught on video travelling to Southampton Docks as part of today’s coordinated ‘unity’ protest ahead of this week’s budget.
‘Day of Unity’ gets underway in Derbyshire
A convoy of tractors with signs calling for Labour’s inheritance tax changes to be abolished is preparing to set off in Derbyshire.
Farmer Sue Flowers told the Express: “Inheritance tax will wipe out food security. If there are no farmers, there’s no food and no future. If you eat, you should back farmers.”
Farmers are preparing to launch a protest in Derbyshire (Image: Sue Flowers)
‘Over 100’ tractors begin hours-long ‘loop’ of Suffolk roads
More than 100 tractors are planning to “loop” between Wherstead and Felixstowe until 4pm today in a bid to “boost support for British farming”, according to reports.
‘Farms can’t afford to feed you anymore’
Taron Lee, a Lincolnshire farmer taking part in today’s demonstration, has called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to U-turn on her inheritance plans, warning that “farms can’t afford to feed you anymore”.
Mr Lee, who is taking the fight to Immingham Docks, a major shipping port, alongside fellow campaigners told the Express: “We’re protesting about IHT, cheap food imports, the fact that farming isn’t profitable anymore, and that we can’t afford to feed you. It’s as simple as that. Rachel Reeves needs to change her inheritance tax and look at why farming isn’t profitable. If something doesn’t get sorted soon with this Labour government, farms are shutting down. They can’t afford to feed you anymore.”
Farmers take to Lincolnshire roads in ‘Day of Unity’ protest (Image: Taron Lee)
When will farmers stage protests today?
Farmers across the UK will take to their local A-roads between 10am and 4pm today as part of a national ‘Day of Unity’ in the latest of a number of demonstrations since Labour announced plans for the controversial “family farm tax” last November.
Locations set to be impacted by the travel disruption reportedly include Devon, Somerset, Southampton, Oxford, Northampton, Suffolk, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire.
Farmers have staged numerous protests across the UK over the last year (Image: Getty)
Police warnings as protests kick off
Suffolk Police have warned motorists to “plan their journeys” ahead of coordinated farmer action on the A14 to Felixstowe today. More than 60 tractors are expected on the stretch, likely causing travel disruption in the region, according to the Ipswich Star. As of 10:30am, congestion had begun to grow on the stretch, with average wait times of around 10 minutes.
Authorities in Lincolnshire have also dispatched officers to Immingham and South Killingholme to oversee the planned “peaceful protest”.
In a statement, they said: “This protest activity is causing some minor disruption to the road network and access to businesses and residential areas in the vicinity. We advise car drivers to find an alternative route and avoid the impacted area.”
Good morning
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of national farming ‘Day of Unity’ protests planned across the UK today.
Farmers in regions around the country are planning slow-moving demonstrations on local A-roads in a show of defiance before the Labour Government’s Autumn Budget on Wednesday, which they fear could usher in more “devastating” measures. Last year’s budget saw Rachel Reeves announce a 20% inheritance tax on agricultural assets worth over £1 million, set to take effect next April, and which sector figures have warned could make it near-impossible for land to be passed down through generations.
Keep an eye on this blog for updates as we get them.
