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3mo ago

Farmers Bring Central London to Standstill Over Planned Inheritance Tax Changes

Protests target Labour's proposal to end inheritance tax exemptions for farms worth over £1 million, drawing political and public attention.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 10: Tractors park in Whitehall during a farmers protest on February 10, 2025 in London, United Kingdom. Farmers are gathering in Westminster to protest changes to inheritance tax, as lawmakers debate a petition with more than 147,000 signatures. The petition calls on the government to abandon reforms introduced in Chancellor Rachel Reeve's Autumn Budget, which farmers say will "devastate farms nationwide." The government has said the inheritance tax reforms are necessary to restore economic stability, and will affect approximately 500 estates per year from April 2026, when the changes are set to take effect. (Photo by Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images)
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Tom Lucas, 16, drove for eight hours from Cambridgeshire to take part in the protest
Farmers drive tractors in front of Big Ben, at Westminster Palace, home to the Houses of Parliament, during a demonstration to protest changes to inheritance tax rules

Overview

  • Hundreds of farmers and tractors blocked streets around Parliament to protest Labour's proposed inheritance tax changes set to take effect in April 2026.
  • The tax plan would cap exemptions at £1 million, with a 20% tax imposed on the value above the threshold, affecting an estimated 500 large farming estates.
  • Protesters argue the changes could force family farms to sell, making it harder to pass farms down through generations and threatening rural livelihoods.
  • Labour insists the policy is necessary for new revenue and will only impact the largest estates, while allocating £5 billion to support UK food security.
  • Political figures including Nigel Farage and Priti Patel joined the rally, urging peaceful demonstrations to pressure the government into reconsidering the policy.