Politics
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.
A person passes a tractor which is displaying an anti-Labour Party sign, parked outside the Houses of Parliament. Pic: Reuters
The tractors were banned as police said they would cause “serious disruption”. Pic: PA
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.”
“Anyone breaching conditions by bringing vehicles, including tractors or agricultural vehicles, to today’s farmers protest will be asked by officers to leave,” police said in a statement.
“If they refuse to comply with the conditions, officers will have to make arrests for offences under the Public Order Act.”
Follow the latest on the budget: Chancellor vows to make ‘fair and necessary choices’
A tractor from the Littledown Christmas Tree Farm arrives for a protest by farmers in Whitehall. Pic: PA
The force said its officers had spoken to several people to advise them of the conditions in the morning, adding that while the majority had listened and complied, “several arrests have been made”.
Tractors were banned from Whitehall because of the “serious disruption” they may cause to the local area, including businesses, emergency services and the public, according to an earlier 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.
Several tractors were parked outside Parliament. Pic: Reuters
Dozens of farmers drove their tractors to Whitehall on Wednesday morning. Pic: PA
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.”
Tractor ban ‘own goal’ leads to chaos
The ban on tractors coming to Whitehall was announced the night before the budget – but despite the restriction, they still rolled into town on the M4 in the early hours.
If anything, the Met Police order to stop agricultural vehicles attending the protest due to concerns about “serious disruption” led to even more chaos.
Not allowed onto Whitehall, farmers ended up blocking Trafalgar Square and roads leading to Westminster, with several arrests made.
“The Met unfortunately have scored an own goal here and created carnage,” organiser Dan Willis told me.
As we spoke outside The Farmers Club near to Downing Street, a forestry shredder blasted out pulverised red cardboard dispatch boxes representing last year’s budget – the one which has angered farmers so much.
As Rachel Reeves passed our camera outside Downing Street, the boos from 500 or so farmers were deafening.
There may not have been any row back on the new inheritance tax by the Chancellor this year – but the 20% levy doesn’t kick in till April 2026.
Farmers will continue to push for it to be scrapped in the months to come.
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.”
Protesters hold a banner next to a fuel tanker shaped like a missile at Whitehall. Pic: Reuters
British farmers rally at Trafalgar Square. Pic: Reuters
Read more:
Raft of tax hikes expected today
Will you be hit by expected ‘stealth tax’?
Are we set for yet another complex budget?
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.