In a dramatic showdown, British farmers stormed the heart of London, demanding the government abolish the controversial inheritance tax on farmland, dubbed the „tractor tax.“ This bold protest erupted as farmers rallied around Parliament Square, brandishing eye-catching placards with slogans like “no farmer, no food, no future” and targeting Prime Minister Keir Starmer as the “farmer harmer.” The new tax, part of the Labour government’s budget, threatens to dismantle family-run farms, which have been passed down through generations without tax burdens until now.
The uproar follows the announcement that starting in 2026, a staggering 20 percent tax will be levied on the value of farms exceeding one million British pounds ($1.27 million). Farmers argue that while their land may appear valuable on paper, the reality is stark: low profit margins mean their children could be forced to sell off land to settle hefty tax bills. Olly Harrison, a passionate protester, voiced the frustrations of many, stating, “We’re not tax dodgers. If we were making profits, tax our profits. But if we’re not making profits, we can’t pay inheritance tax.”
Widespread Concerns Among Farmers
Emma Robinson, a farmer with a rich family legacy spanning 500 years, expressed her dismay at the government’s actions, feeling her family’s future is being jeopardized by politicians who barely understand rural life. The government claims that only about 500 farms will be affected annually, but the Country Land and Business Association warns that the true number could soar to 70,000, as many farms are valued over the million-pound threshold. National Farmers’ Union president Tom Bradshaw declared that protests would persist until the government acknowledges the “disastrous human impacts” of this policy.
Despite the outcry, the government insists that the threshold for paying inheritance tax could reach as high as three million pounds ($3.8 million) when accounting for exemptions. Starmer reassured the public that “the vast majority of farms” will remain untouched by this tax. However, the tension between farmers and the government continues to escalate, with the agricultural community standing firm against what they perceive as an existential threat to their livelihoods.