Farmers ignore tractor ban and bring inheritance tax protest to Westminster

Farmers have driven a convoy of tractors into Westminster on budget day over proposed inheritance tax changes.

They came despite Metropolitan Police restrictions banning agricultural machinery from the area.

One tractor was parked outside Parliament on Abingdon Street bearing the slogan "Fools vote Labour", with more seen driving through Westminster on Wednesday morning.

Police stopped about 20 tractors in the area, including one with a farmer dressed as Father Christmas whose tractor was parked on Whitehall and carried a large spruce tree with a sign reading: "Farmer Christmas - the naughty list: Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves, David Lammy, Diane Abbott, Angela Rayner & the BBC."

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Tractors were banned from Whitehall because of the "serious disruption" they may cause to the local area, including businesses, emergency services and the public, police said in a statement on Tuesday.

The force added that people would still be able to demonstrate, but that they must remain in a specified area in Richmond Terrace, Whitehall.

The protest comes as anger continues over Chancellor Rachel Reeves's plan to introduce a 20% inheritance tax on agricultural land and businesses worth more than £1m from April 2026. The sector is already struggling with rising costs, tough market conditions and the worsening impact of climate change.

One of the organisers of the protest is Dan Willis, who owns Rookery Farms near Newbury in Berkshire.

He told Sky News correspondent Dan Whitehead that he was "absolutely devastated" when the group was told the demonstration couldn't happen anymore, adding that it was "very hard to get the word out to everybody".

"They were coming anyway, so unfortunately the Met have scored an own goal here. They created carnage," Mr Willis said.

"We know it's come from government. We know they don't want to listen to us, whether it's in the House or on the street, but we need a road. We need to exercise our right to protest. At the end of the day, that's what's happening today."

He added: "These are all independent farmers who have come of their own volition.

"It's such an emotive issue. You're talking about death and losing family, a family asset, which is how we earn our living. And by the way, producing food, taxing the working people of this country, it's impossible for us to go on."

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Wednesday's protest is the latest in a string of demonstrations by farmers against proposed changes to inheritance tax.

Farmers drove their tractors to Whitehall in December, with thousands of people protesting the decision they say will put their businesses and futures and the country's food security at risk.

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