Tractors will arrive in London tomorrow to protest against the Government (Image: Getty)
More than 300 tractors will tomorrow rumble into Whitehall tomorrow to rally against the Government’s “anti-farming Stalinist offensive”.
The farmers will descend on Westminster from all over the country to protest against Labour’s inheritance tax raid among other attacks on the industry.
Save British Farming’s Liz Webster described the Labour Government’s approach, including limiting inheritance tax relief to the first £1 million of agricultural and business property, as “Stalinist”.
She said: “Tony Blair’s former advisor, John McTernan, blurted out recently that the Labour Party intends to do to farming what Thatcher did the mines.
“This anti-farming Stalinist offensive from the Labour government presents a real danger to us all, we rely on food to survive.
“Losing the ability to feed ourselves means a total loss of control, we learnt hard lessons in the last two world wars about the fact that food security is national security.
“ must listen to farmers and step back from the brink and do what is right and best for our great country.”
The organisers and some farming guests will deliver speeches while is at Prime Minister’s Questions inside the Commons.
A “short ceremonial event” will then take place to mark the “serious consequences” of Sir Keir’s and Rachel Reeves’s budget.
Don’t miss…
Jeff Gibson, Founder of Kent Fairness For Farmers, said: “We strive as farmers in this country to provide the public with the safest food and highest animal welfare in the world and that comes with a cost.
“We can’t compete with substandard dangerous imports for e.g. growth hormones have been banned in this country for over 50 years yet this new government who are about to get into bed with Trump for yet another terrible trade deal for hormone fed beef. This is where this cruel farm tax really starts to bite. In most cases we are happy and immensely proud to provide food without any real financial gain in the hope we can pass our farms, which we’ve worked so hard to protect and care for, to the next generation.
“The questions I ask you today are what future does farming have? Can we really expect the next generation to start their farming careers paying 10 years of tax burden because we died? My message to this government is I am happy to pay any tax to contribute to society like everyone else. But I can’t do that now with both arms tied behind my back.”
Farmers have reacted with anger and dismay to the inheritance tax changes for farming businesses, which limit the existing 100% relief for farms to the first £1 million of combined agricultural and business property.
The Express’s Save Britain’s Family Farms crusade has demanded Rachel Reeves’s U-turns on her decision.
Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins MP said: “The Labour government still isn’t listening.
“Tomorrow, farmers will once again leave their farms and come to Westminster to fight Labour’s vindictive policies including the Family Farm Tax, accelerated cuts to payments, a national insurance hike and the suspension of capital grants.
“It is time that City Steve Reed stopped burying his head in the sand and faced up to the reality; he and the Chancellor have got their numbers wrong. The changes they are proposing will whack thousands of farms and do untold damage to our nation’s food security. They need to reverse their catastrophic policies and stand up for the very people that keep our nation fed.”
Last month an estimated 13,000 people gathered in Westminster to protest against the Budget’s impact on farming, with composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, TV personality and leading politicians Kemi Badenoch, Sir Ed Davey and among them.
When asked if Sir Keir was concerned farmers could get more militant and restrict food supplies, Sir Keir’s spokesman said: “We have been very clear we are not going to change course on this policy.
“It was necessary to take tough decisions at the Budget and the spending review and those decisions remain.
“But our commitment to farmers is steadfast and our message to farmers is clear, that is why we provided £5 billion to the farming budget over two years including more money than ever for sustainable food production.”