Shropshire farmer warns of more protests over inheritance tax
Farmers have arrived in London today for a fresh protest
Farmers headed back to London today (10th Feb) for their third protest in four months in the capital on their campaign against inheritance tax changes.
Labour has insisted it will not make a U-turn on its plans to introduce a 20% inheritance tax rate on farms worth more than £1 million.
The changes announced in the Budget are due to come into force in April 2026 and scrap an exemption which meant no inheritance tax was paid to pass down family farms.
Graham Price is the Shropshire County Chairman of the National Farmers Union, who have also been organising protests on the issue.
He said the tax means British farms will not be profitable:
"At the present situation we are earning so little. We cannot afford this taxation without losing the family farm.
"Today the atmosphere will be one of quiet optimism. Hopefully we will be able to bring about change.
"The ideal would be if Chancellor Rachel Reeves made an announcement of change at the Spring Statement," he said.
He said it was "quite possible" there would be more protests after this one, if farmers do not get what they want.
Will the government change their mind on inheritance tax?
Today's tractor rally, organised by Save British Farming, comes as MPs debate an e-petition with more than 148,000 signatures calling to keep the current inheritance tax exemptions for working farms.
Speaking at a Farmers To Action campaign event in north London before the event in Westminster, Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage said: "I'm pleased to see the campaign is ramping up. It's growing right across the country.
"The message I've been putting to them, I think they're listening too, which is 100 Labour MPs now represent rural seats - if they see local communities getting behind these families, they're going to start getting scared, and they're going to start putting pressure on No 10, and let's face it, they're in pretty big trouble already.
"So I think if this campaign is persistent and peaceful, they can get change," he said.
What did farmers say whilst in London?
Alan Hughes, a farmer in the Hereford-Shropshire border region, said he had to run farm diversifications "just to stay afloat and pay the bills".
Addressing the crowd at the Farmers To Action campaign event at Belmont Farm, Mr Hughes, 36, added: "My fear, like many here, is that I will be the last generation to farm our land."
The Government said it had to take difficult decisions at the Budget but it's commitment to farmers across the country remains steadfast.