Angry farmers staged a massive tractor protest yesterday against UK Government plans for inheritance tax charges on farmers.
Around 100 formed a convoy for 15 miles along Edinburgh’s A1 bypass – from Old Craighall near Musselburgh to the city’s Gogar roundabout – as part of a series of nationwide demos.
The vehicles carried signs reading ‘No Farms, No Food’ as well as ‘Back British Farming’ and ‘Stop The Family Farm Tax.’
One placard described Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves as a “bunch of thieves.”
The protest was against controversial plans to lift inheritance tax exemption for famers, which are to be implemented by Labour next year.
Farmers claim the move threatens the future of family farms and ordinary farmers.
The UK government plans to scrap an inheritance tax exemption for farms worth more the £1m.
They say 75 per cent of farms across the country will not be impacted by the changes and the measure will only impact the wealthiest of farmers.
Farmers staged a massive tractor protest against UK Government plans for inheritance tax
Around 100 formed a convoy for 15 miles along Edinburgh’s A1 bypass
The protest was against controversial plans to lift inheritance tax exemption for famers, which are to be implemented by Labour next year
Rallies had originally been planned last week but were cancelled due to widespread damage caused by Storm Eowyn.
Farmers body NFU Scotland met with Scottish MPs last week in Westminster to raise the concerns of their members.
President Martin Kennedy added: ‘The tractor rallies are just part of our wider, ongoing fight to get these taxation proposals reviewed by the UK Government.
‘The announcement of proposed inheritance tax exemptions changes have sent shock waves through the farming community, causing untold stress for many whose livelihoods depend on the very existence of their family farm.
‘These devastating proposals must change to avoid the serious negative impact these outcomes would have on growth and employment in the agricultural sector, the wider rural economy and on the nation’s food security.’
