November 19th 2024.
Today, thousands of farmers will be taking to the streets of central London in protest against recent tax changes announced by the government. The demonstration will begin on Richmond Terrace and culminate at Parliament Square, with some roads in the area being closed off due to the expected turnout of around 1,800 farmers. Among them is well-known TV presenter and farmer, Jeremy Clarkson.
Originally, the protest was planned to be held at Trafalgar Square, but the overwhelming number of participants caused a change in plans as there was simply not enough room for everyone. This goes to show the magnitude of the issue at hand for these farmers, who fear the impact of the new inheritance tax on their livelihoods.
Starting from April 2026, family farms worth over £1 million will be subject to a 20% inheritance tax, halved from the usual 40% rate. This means that farms that were previously able to be passed down to the next generation without any tax implications will now have a significant financial burden to bear. Liam Price, a 28-year-old farmer from Wales, expressed his concern over having to sell off land to pay the levy.
In addition to the protest, farmers will also be participating in a mass lobby of Members of Parliament at the nearby Church House. According to Price, the purpose of this demonstration is to show unity within the industry and to make their voices heard. However, he also believes that, regardless of how long the current political party is in power, farmers are not a priority for them.
For Price, this issue hits close to home as he works on a farm that has been in his family for generations. But with the new tax changes, he is unsure of how much of the farm will actually be passed down to him when his father decides to step back. This is a common concern among farmers, with the National Farmers Union (NFU) estimating that the impact of the tax could affect up to two-thirds of farm estates, contradicting the government's claim that it will only affect less than 30%.
Richard Brown, who now runs an insurance broker firm in Derby but grew up on a farm, shared his perspective on the matter. He believes that farming is not a lucrative business and most farmers would be better off selling their land, putting the money in the bank, and finding a different job. This highlights the sacrifice and dedication that farmers have for their profession, despite not reaping substantial financial rewards.
As the protest takes place, Londoners can expect some disruption in the city, including the pumping of raw sewage into rivers due to errors in new-builds and a shockingly low demand for the London cable car, which cost £60 million to build. But for these farmers, this protest is a necessary means to bring attention to their cause and hopefully bring about change for the future of their profession.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
