Furious farmers have defied the tractor ban as they drive to Westminster in protest over Rachel Reeves‘ Budget.
Agriculturists were banned from bringing their tractors amid protest plans against controversial UK inheritance tax reforms, known as ‘family farm tax’ – sparking fury and accusations of two-tier policing.
At the 11th hour, the Metropolitan Police announced today’s protest against the ending of inheritance relief will be restricted to a small, designated area of Whitehall.
The gathering was intended by organisers to have been ‘one of the most striking rural demonstrations in years’ with hundreds of tractors taking part.
Farmers were no longer allowed to protest outside Downing Street and were pushed to a side road because the force said the protest could ‘result in serious disruption to the life of the community’.
Despite the ban, tractors have been seen making their way to central London this morning, with one green vehicle spotted with a dragon on the back, as well as the words: ‘I save my labour. RIP farming.’
The move against the demonstration – being organised by Berkshire Farmers but involving farmers from every corner of the country – was met with fury and accusations of ‘two-tier policing’.
Speaking to Sky News, organiser Dan Willis from Berkshire Farmers, said he was ‘absolutely devastated’, by the restrictions on their demonstration.
‘We had already got the word out to everybody, it was impossible. They were coming anyway,’ he said.
One tractor sign read today, ‘Fools vote Labour’, as farmers take a stand against inheritance tax
Pictured: Furious farmers defying today’s tractor ban as they drive to Westminster in protest over Rachel Reeves ‘ Budget
Speaking to Sky News, organiser Dan Willis from Berkshire Farmers, said he was ‘absolutely devastated’, by the restrictions on their demonstration
‘The Met, unfortunately, have scored an own goal here and created carnage. We know it’s come from the government.
‘We know they don’t want to listen to us in the house or on the street but we need to exercise our right to protest, and at the end of the day, that is what’s happening today.
‘This is such an emotive issue, you are talking about death and losing family assets, which is how we earn our living and by the way, produce our food.
‘Taxing the working people of this country its impossible to go on.’
The farmers shoved red boxes with the words, ‘Who needs food’, ‘Taxed to death’, ‘Budget 2024’, into farm machinery, which spat out the shredded remnants.
A woman told the broadcaster: ‘Look at these young people around you now, all these young people want to go farming, and you are going to stop them doing their jobs
‘We need them to be able to carry on these businesses and bring the food to this country, and the food the people want in this country.
‘The British people want British food, and that’s more important. This inheritance tax is just stopping all these young people from their jobs.’
Meanwhile, others driving around the streets of the capital city were seen with signs that read: ‘No farms, no food, no future,’ as well as ‘fools vote for Labour’.
Another sign from defiant agriculturists reads, ‘No farms, no food, no future’ as they protest against the inheritance tax raid
Another tractor making its way through the streets of London after farmers had been banned from bringing their tractors to a planned protests today ahead of the Budget
The gathering was intended by organisers to have been ‘one of the most striking rural demonstrations in years’, with hundreds of tractors taking part
One farmer said: ‘The event had permission and all previous events have been peaceful, tidy and with no arrests’.
He asked: ‘Is this two-tier policing to avoid embarrassment to (Rachel) Reeves on budget day?’
Yorkshire farmer Jonathan Charlesworth, whose father John took his own life so he could pass on the farm before Ms Reeves’ hated new policy comes in next April, said: ‘All previous farmer protests have been peaceful and well organised; it is an awareness event to raise legitimate concerns farmers in the UK have about the dismal outlook for farming businesses in the UK.
‘I don’t believe any of the reasons given to cancel the tractor convoy have a basis, considering much more divisive marches have taken place including pro-Palestinian marches and the Tommy Robinson march combined with the Stand up to Racism March on the same day.
‘It screams two-tier policing, to protect the government from further adverse publicity on another budget day that is likely to bring more hardship to working families from all walks of life not just farmers.’
Mr Charlesworth Sr, 78, was found dead the day before budget day last October 29 having read rumours about the planned tax raid.
Tory MP Sir John Hayes, chairman of the backbench Common Sense group, said: ‘It shouldn’t be beyond the wit of the Metropolitan Police to allow activities of this kind.
‘It seems bizarre that they allow so many demonstrations to go ahead by the most bizarre, extreme groups yet we can’t allow the farmers who feed the nation.’
Despite the ban, tractors have been seen making their way to central London this morning.
Tractors line Whitehall during a previous farmers’ protest against inheritance tax raid
Clive Bailye, of The Farming Forum, who organised the first tractor protest against the inheritance tax raid last November, said: ‘It does feel like two-tier policing. The feedback from the Met about our protest was that we were a pleasure to work with.
‘The organisers of this protest were assured it could go ahead, then were told at 2.30pm today (Tuesday) that it couldn’t.’
Victoria Atkins MP, Shadow Environment Secretary, said: ‘Farmers deserve answers. The police have changed their minds with less than 24 hours to go, having worked with farmers over the last 12 days to ensure a safe and effective protest over the vindictive Family Farm and Business Taxes.
‘What has changed? It doesn’t smell right, particularly when we think of the regular and frequent protests that are allowed in SW1, which inconvenience motorists, residents and businesses without consideration. Is this to save the Chancellor embarrassment ahead of her Budget of Broken Promises?’
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: ‘We have had a number of conversations with the protest organisers to safely manage the event.
‘While people will still be able to demonstrate, conditions have been put in place to prevent protesters from bringing vehicles, including tractors or other agricultural vehicles to the protest.
‘This decision was taken due to the serious disruption they may cause to the local area, including businesses, emergency services and Londoners going about their day.’
