Thousands of UK farmers descend on Parliament to protest against inheritance tax hike


Thousands of UK farmers have gathered outside Parliament to protest the government's decision to increase inheritance tax as part of the latest budget.

The policy would end a tax break introduced in the 1990s, which exempts agricultural property from the levy. Starting in April 2026, farms valued at over £1 million (€1.197 million) will face a 20% tax when passed to the next generation upon the owner's death.

British farmers warn that this increase will deliver a "hammer blow" to family farms, which are already grappling with the challenges of climate change, global instability, and the economic disruptions caused by Brexit.


The past decade has been turbulent for farmers. Many British farmers supported Brexit, seeing it as an opportunity to break free from the EU’s complex and often-criticized Common Agricultural Policy. Since then, the UK has introduced reforms, including payments to farmers for restoring nature and promoting biodiversity alongside food production.


Many farmers feel betrayed by previous Conservative governments and Keir Starmer's Labour administration. Bureaucratic delays, insufficient subsidies to match inflation, and trade deals with countries like Australia and New Zealand—bringing in cheap imports—have left them struggling.  

For many, the Labour government’s recent tax changes, aimed at raising billions to fund public services, are the final straw.  

“Four out of the last five years, we’ve lost money,” said Harrison, a fifth-generation farmer who grows cereal crops near Liverpool. “The only thing that’s kept me going is doing it for my kids. Maybe a bit of land appreciation allowed us to keep borrowing and staying afloat. But now that’s been wiped out overnight.”