Thousands of British farmers are set to protest in London on Tuesday against the government’s decision to end a key inheritance tax exemption, which has long allowed family farms to pass down through generations without tax burdens.
The protest will march to Parliament Square, where farmers will express concerns that the change could endanger food production in the UK.
In October, Finance Minister Rachel Reeves announced that from 2026, farmers with land worth over £1 million ($1.26 million) will no longer be able to pass their farms to their children without paying inheritance tax. This measure, aimed at raising funds for public services, has been met with strong opposition.
The so-called “tractor tax” is just one aspect of broader criticism directed at Reeves’s financial plans. Some of the UK’s largest companies have warned that the increase in employers’ social security contributions could worsen inflation. Farmers argue that the removal of the inheritance tax exemption will severely impact family farms, which often operate with narrow profit margins. Many fear they will be forced to sell land to cover the tax, further straining food production.
Protest organizers expect around 20,000 farmers to attend the rally, which will feature a peaceful demonstration, including children driving toy tractors. Celebrity farmer Jeremy Clarkson is expected to participate.
However, protest leaders warn that this rally could be only the beginning. Farmers have also voiced concerns about competition from cheaper imported products, which do not meet the same environmental and welfare standards as UK-grown produce. Combined with pressures from supermarkets and climate change, many feel their livelihoods are under increasing threat.
The government maintains that the tax change will only affect around 500 farms each year. The new tax rate for those farms will be set at 20%, instead of the usual 40%, and will be payable in installments over 10 years.
