Farmers march in inheritance tax protest in London

Farmers Rally Against Inheritance Tax Changes

**Video: 'It's Over' for Farmers - Jeremy Clarkson**

Thousands of individuals are rallying in London to voice their opposition to proposed modifications to inheritance tax for farmers, which were revealed in the recent Budget announcement.

One of the participants in the march to Whitehall was Jeremy Clarkson. He expressed his concern that this could spell the end for farmers and urged the government to reconsider its stance.

Starting in April 2026, inherited agricultural assets valued over £1 million, which used to be exempt from taxes, will now be subject to a tax rate of 20%, which is half the standard rate. However, certain allowances may allow a married couple or partners in a civil union to transfer a farm valued up to £3 million without incurring inheritance tax.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the worries of farmers, expressing his desire to assist them. However, he noted that "most farms would not be impacted by this in any way."

According to estimates from the Met Police, more than 10,000 individuals gathered in Whitehall.

In a post on X, the authorities announced that because of the large number of people expected, the march will now proceed along Whitehall instead of trying to turn around and go to Parliament Square as initially intended.

In reaction to a video circulating on social media that seems to depict tractors knocking down police barriers during the protest, the Metropolitan Police stated, "It is unacceptable to drive over a police barrier, and the drivers involved will face consequences for their actions."

Clarkson mentioned that he believed the modification to the inheritance tax felt like a hasty and unplanned choice made at the last moment.

"We all mess up sometimes, and I believe it's time for them to admit, 'Alright, we didn’t handle this well' and step back."

Tom Bradshaw, the president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), informed the demonstrators that the alterations were the final tipping point for their frustrations.

There is disagreement over how many farms might be impacted by the changes to the inheritance tax.

The government claims that the changes will impact only the richest 500 estates annually. However, the National Farmers' Union (NFU) and the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) believe that as many as 70,000 farms might be impacted.

Due to the rules surrounding inheritance tax, the amount that individuals are required to pay can differ.

Mr. Bradshaw expressed to BBC Newsnight, "We're discussing the lives and livelihoods of individuals here. They have no way to make any plans."

One of the participants at Tuesday's events is David Barton, a livestock farmer from Gloucestershire. He manages a 265-acre farm located near Cirencester, which has been in his family for over a century, since 1913.

He believes his cattle farm, which has 400 animals, is valued at about £5 million. He's concerned that the suggested changes to inheritance tax might leave his son with a hefty bill of £800,000.

Farmers from Winchester have made their way to London to take part in the demonstration.

"This budget has really impacted us deeply because I realize my son won't be able to cover the inheritance tax," he shared.

He is thinking about giving away his property, believing it wouldn’t be subject to inheritance tax as long as he lives for at least seven more years. However, he is worried that he may not be financially secure enough to quit his job.

Baroness Minette Bridget Batters, a farmer and former president of the NFU, has urged for steps to shield farmers from extra expenses.

She expressed to Today that it seems like "the consequences for farmers are only increasing," citing the increase in the National Living Wage, the rise in National Insurance contributions, and now the inheritance tax.

During a conversation with media representatives at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, the prime minister emphasized that the "overwhelming majority" of farms would remain "unaffected" by the budget changes.

Sir Keir, who reminisced about his upbringing in the countryside, expressed that he understands the worries of farmers. He mentioned that a Labour government aims to utilize the Budget to support various sectors that impact rural areas, including healthcare, education, and housing.

He mentioned that £5 billion has been committed over the next two years for farming and sustainable food practices. This is incredibly significant for farmers, as it provides extra funding to address issues like flooding that affect them, as well as to tackle disease outbreaks.

When asked about possible modifications to the inheritance plans, the Prime Minister said, "It's crucial for me to emphasize that usually, it involves just farms and assets valued over £3 million when parents want to pass things on to their kids. Because of this, I'm fairly sure that most farms will remain unaffected."

Alaw Jones, a student gearing up to participate in the rally in London later, is part of a family with a long history of livestock farming in West Wales, dating back nine generations. She mentioned that her parents had always intended to pass the farm down to her and her sister. However, she now feels that all their hard work to establish the business and make the farm self-sufficient seems to have been in vain.

She expressed, "Mental health is a significant concern in the farming sector, and this seems to be the last straw for farmers who are already facing difficulties."

Rupert Dale's family operates a hay farm located on the border between Worcestershire and Shropshire, providing hay to livestock farmers nationwide.

He mentioned that the family is now worried that they'll have to sell their farm. He explained, "My brother and I would need to come up with a huge amount of money to keep the farm running, but we’ve discussed it as a family and decided that it’s something we simply can't afford."

The president of the Students' Union, Alexandra Godfrey, stated, "I believe this is a critical issue facing the farming industry, and it's essential for us to come together and share our thoughts with the government. If we don’t address it now, when will we?"

Victoria Atkins, the shadow environment secretary, claimed that Labour presented a "budget full of unfulfilled commitments" that was "harming British agriculture."

"Farmers might have significant assets, but they often struggle with cash flow," she told the BBC.

Their motivation isn't financial gain; it's a year-round commitment.

The Liberal Democrats dismissed the claim that only 500 of the richest farming estates in the UK would be impacted each year as complete nonsense.

The party's spokesperson on environmental issues, Tim Farron, stated on BBC Breakfast, "The only way for people to handle the inheritance tax is by selling the farm, which leads to corporations purchasing it."

"It's harsh, it's unjust, and it's truly foolish."