1402 Farmers Stage Major Tractor Protest in London Over Proposed Inheritance Tax Changes


Thousands of farmers from across the UK converged on central London on Friday, bringing tractors into the capital and staging one of the largest rural demonstrations seen in recent years. Organisers said the protest was aimed at opposing proposed changes to inheritance tax rules that they believe could place significant pressure on family-run farms.

According to the campaign group No Farmers No Food, around 15,000 people took part in the demonstration, with an estimated 1,800 tractors travelling into the city. Large parts of the area around Parliament Square and Whitehall experienced heavy congestion, and police confirmed that a number of surrounding streets were temporarily closed to manage traffic and public safety.
The protest focused on a proposed 20% inheritance tax charge on certain agricultural assets, which campaigners say would affect long-established family farms when land and businesses are passed on to the next generation. Organisers claim that up to 71,000 farming holdings could eventually be impacted if the policy goes ahead.

At approximately 9:20 a.m., representatives from the group delivered a formal message to government officials, urging ministers to withdraw or rethink the proposal and begin urgent talks with farming organisations. Protest leaders said the policy risks accelerating the decline of small and medium-sized farms and could undermine long-term food security.
Many farmers at the demonstration described rising costs, lower margins and increasing regulatory pressures as key factors behind the scale of the turnout. “We want fair and workable policies that allow family farms to survive and be passed on,” one protester said.
The Metropolitan Police stated that the protest remained largely peaceful, but warned that enforcement action could be taken if vehicles obstructed emergency routes or breached public order regulations.