Farmers are planning a fresh round of protests against the Labour Government amid continued backlash to controversial inheritance tax changes. Frustrated farmers who think Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeeves are out to get them will stage demonstrations outside local election polling stations on May 1 to encourage voters to choose “anyone but Labour”. Anna Longthorp, an award-winning pig farmer based in North Yorkshire, has organised a number of tractor protests in the region since Ms Reeves announced a new 20% tax on agricultural assets worth over £1 million in the October budget.
The 42-year-old said campaigners will now pivot to more focused action targeted at voters in next month’s local elections, pledging to “hit [the Government] where it hurts until they take us seriously”. Ms Longthorp said the tide of opinion in the sector had turned decisively against the Government after it became clear a U-turn on the inheritance tax policy was not on the table, with many turning to Reform UK in a bid to have their voices heard.
“We have the support of some rural backbench Labour MPs, but it’s not making a difference,” she added. “We’re supposed to live in a democracy, but it feels like a two-man power trip between Reeves and Starmer.”
Demonstrators will gather outside polling stations with banners bearing the message “Labour Out” on May 1, a slogan that Ms Longthorp said she hopes will “send a clear message” to Westminster.
“The consensus across the farming community is that we’ve got to keep the pressure on,” she said. “We have such a huge amount of support across the country – but it still doesn’t seem like they’re listening.
“When they came into power, my colleagues were optimistic that we had a Government who understood and would protect the industry, but I don’t think I’ve ever known people to be disillusioned so quickly. We’d normally go to these leaders for help, but instead they’re actively trying to destroy us.”
While she’ll be encouraging people to vote for “anybody but Labour” next month, Ms Longthorp said she has sensed a pivot of allegiance towards Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, which has campaigned on the promise to “revitalise” Britain’s agriculture.
“A lot of people are turning towards Reform because they don’t think Labour won the general election, they think the Tories lost it,” the 42-year-old added.
“We don’t want to look backwards – we’re ready for something different.”
Reform currently holds around 100 council seats following a number of defections from other parties, but is looking to tighten its hold in rural and suburban areas on May 1, and is contesting nearly all of the 1,600 seats up for grabs.
The Government has previously insisted that its “commitment to farmers remains steadfast”, promising to “invest £5 billion into farming over the next two years, the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history”.
A spokesperson added: “Our reform to Agricultural and Business Property Relief will mean estates will pay a reduced effective inheritance tax rate of 20%, rather than standard 40%, and payments can be spread over 10 years, interest-free.
“This is a fair and balanced approach, which fixes the public services we all rely on, affecting around 500 estates a year.”
