Farmers planning to drive their tractors into central London for a Budget Day demonstration have been blocked by the Metropolitan Police, setting the stage for a contentious protest against proposed inheritance tax reforms.
Police Impose Conditions on Westminster Protest
The Metropolitan Police announced on Tuesday evening that it has implemented conditions preventing participants from bringing vehicles, including tractors and other agricultural machinery, to the planned protest on Wednesday. This decision followed several discussions with the event's organisers.
The police force justified the ban by citing the potential for "serious disruption" that such large vehicles could cause to local businesses, emergency services, and the general public. Authorities have stipulated that any individual taking part in the farmers' protest must remain within a designated area on Richmond Terrace, Whitehall.
Inheritance Tax Changes Spark Farmer Anger
The protest was organised to voice strong opposition to Chancellor Rachel Reeves's proposal to impose a 20% inheritance tax on agricultural land and businesses valued over £1 million. This has become a highly contentious political issue for the farming industry, which is already grappling with significant challenges.
Farmers argue they are facing a perfect storm of escalating costs, difficult market conditions, and the increasing impacts of climate change. On an event page created by the group 'Berkshire Farmers', organisers stated their intention to drive to London to "demand fairness and a future for British farming". They asserted that the current inheritance tax system "threatens family farms and rural livelihoods".
Protest Cancelled Amidst Accusations
In response to the police conditions, administrators for the Berkshire Farmer Facebook group announced the cancellation of the protest. They described the police's imposition of conditions with such short notice as a "malicious approach to preventing our right to protest", claiming it left little time for an appeal or to facilitate the requests.
A post from the group stated: "Therefore, we, Berkshire Farmers Group and all associated organisers including but not limited to George Brown, Dan Willis and Caroline Graham, wish to inform all attendees that this protest has been cancelled by Dr Alison Heydari of the Metropolitan Police, and we absolve ourselves of all responsibilities for any attendance to this event."
Wednesday's planned demonstration was intended to be the latest in a series of protests by farmers. Last December, thousands of demonstrators assembled along Whitehall while farmers drove their tractors outside Parliament, rallying against proposals they claim threaten their enterprises, livelihoods, and the nation's food security.
