Tractors in Trafalgar - Starmer The Farmer Harmer

Event: Hundreds of tractors blocked streets in central London as farmers protested against the government’s removal of inheritance tax exemptions for agricultural families.
Policy: The new "tractor tax" will impose a 20% tax on farm values exceeding £1 million starting in 2026, with combined personal allowances raising the threshold to £3 million for married couples.
Reason for Policy: The government introduced the tax to increase funding for strained public services.
Farmers’ Concerns:
The tax threatens the survival of family farms.
It may reduce food production.
Farmers already face financial pressures from competitive supermarket pricing, cheap imports, and Brexit-related subsidy cuts.
Protests:
Farmers gathered near Parliament, holding signs like "No Farmers, No Food, No Future."
In November, 13,000 people, including Jeremy Clarkson, protested in Westminster.
Government’s Response:
The government has ruled out reversing the policy.
Environment Minister Steve Reed emphasized rural support schemes and commitments to food security and economic growth.
Farmer’s Viewpoint: Gareth Wyn Jones described the tax as "the final nail in our agricultural coffin."