FARMERS are entitled to protest but most won’t be hit by the inheritance tax raid, Sir Keir Starmer has insisted. The PM yesterday played down fury over the so-called “tractor tax” as thousands of angry farmers prepare to storm London on Tuesday. The tax change will slap a 20 per cent levy on family farms worth over £1 million starting April 2026.
But Sir Keir said he is confident the £3 million tax-free threshold means the “vast majority” of farms won’t be affected. He also urged ministers to explain the policy better, telling reporters: “It’s important for us to keep communicating how that works.” Pressed on whether cops should crack down on protesting farmers like Just Stop Oil , he said: “They are entitled to express their views.
I do understand their concerns...
Read More on Politics “As to how the protest takes shape and what the response is, that will be a matter for them and the police for how they respond to it.” A senior minister also revealed plans are being put in place to deal with food shortages if farmers go ahead with their threat to strike over the controversial family farm tax . Trying to allay shelf shortage fears, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh told Sky News: “The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will be setting out plans for the winter and setting out - as business as usual - contingency plans and ensuring that food security is treated as the priority it deserves to be.
”.
Politics