Around 100 tractors headed towards Dover’s busy port as frustrated farmers vented their anger at Rachel Reeves’ inheritance tax raid.
Farmers take part in a go-slow protest in Dover, Kent, to show their unhappiness at the Labour gover (Image: PA)
A slow tractor protest was winding through Dover towards its busy port as more than 100 farmers vented their frustration at Rachel Reeves’ inheritance tax plans.
The demonstration is is being organised jointly by the Save British Farming (SBF) and the Fairness for Farmers of Kent campaign groups.
SBF shared footage of the convoy via Facebook, commenting: “We call on Govt to axe inheritance tax, get an EU veterinary agreement, rule out a USA FTA and sell off to BlackRock; Reverse fast-track removal of BPS; U-turn on pick-up tax; Scrab carbon tax on fertilise; Stop substandard & illegal import; Make the supply chain fair again; Strengthen labelling to protect uk products; Protect and strengthen our weakening food security!”
The two groups previously teamed up forces to bring the biggest ever tractor demo to London in March to protest against lower standard imports in trade deals which they say undercut British farmers.
Farmers take part in a go-slow protest in Dover, Kent, to show their unhappiness at the Labour gover (Image: PA)
Organisers have described the inheritance tax changes as the “final straw” along with other “aggressively damaging” anti-farming policies.
Posting on X, SBF founder Liz Webster said: “We were promised a new deal by @Keir_Starmer to improve food security with a new EU Veterinary agreement to ensure protection from lower standard imports.
“But @RachelReevesMP instead betrayed farmers with disastrous budget which delivered a poisonous cocktail and a hammer blow to an industry which is already on its knees after years of turbulence and being taken for granted.”
Express.co.uk has contacted SBF for more details.
Farmers take part in a go-slow protest in Dover, Kent, to show their unhappiness at the Labour gover (Image: PA)
Sir Keir Starmer met privately with the leader of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) on Monday in a bid the defuse the escalating row.
Downing Street described meeting as “constructive”, and suggested the “serious, grown-up” Government was directly confronting criticism of its plans.
Tom Bradshaw, president of the NFU, meanwhile said he hoped his union and the Government could work together on a resolution towards the issue.
The head-to-head follows outrage from agricultural landowners about the proposed tax changes, which will see farmers pay inheritance tax on properties and land worth more than £1 million.
Farmers take part in a go-slow protest in Dover, Kent, to show their unhappiness at the Labour gover (Image: PA)
