Should British farmers be protesting in the streets? Have your say

British farmers, angry over the latest changes to inheritance tax rules as set out in the Autumn Budget, are gearing up for a major protest in London on Tuesday (November 19). Key figures including Jeremy Clarkson are expected to join the rally outside Parliament, despite government declarations that they won't backpedal on what many consider one of the most divisive Budget policies introduced last month.

Have your say! Should farmers be protesting about the inheritance tax changes? Should they fall in line with other types of business? What do you think about threats to block roads? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.

The Chancellor unveiled plans to implement inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1 million, which were previously exempted from these taxes. The government say that their strategy aimed at plugging "loopholes" within the complicated inheritance tax framework, justifying it as a tough choice to enable extensive public sector funding for the next five years

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This policy shift has escalated tensions between rural communities and the current Labour administration, with farmers and their supporters calling for nationwide protests, to pressure the Prime Minister to reconsider. These demonstrations follow closely on the heels of a recent rally coinciding with a Welsh Labour conference over the weekend; another significant gathering is scheduled to convene outside Parliament on Tuesday.

The National Farmers' Union (NFU), representing upward of 45,000 enterprises, has opposed the new tax rule, dubbing it the "Family Farm Tax". Their petition demanding the government revoke the contentious legislation has garnered nearly 200,000 supporters.

The petition states: "If this tax change goes ahead, it will deal a hammer blow to farming families, after decades of tightening margins, record inflation, extreme weather and increased production costs, many farmers and growers are at breaking point, unable to absorb any more cost burden."

"This matters because it has the potential to reduce UK food production and alongside the increases in employment costs, the cost of food production rises, with many people still facing a cost-of-living crisis."

Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner has responded by saying: "I urge people to look calmly at the detail and I think they will find that the vast majority will be fine. The figures from the Treasury are very clear: under 500 farms a year are likely to be affected and I would say to people, take advice because every person's situation is different and there will be many, many people who will find they are not actually going to be caught by this."

However, some farmers and influential figures have suggested more drastic actions, although these are not endorsed by the NFU. One such proposal circulating on social media involves using farming equipment to obstruct roads or ports - but 'wilful obstruction of the highway' is a criminal offence, as other protest groups have shown in recent years.

Amid concerns about the potential for farm produce to be withheld as a means of pressuring the Government over food security, Transport Minister Louise Haigh has outlined that backup plans are in place. She confirmed: "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."

Have your say! Should farmers be protesting about the inheritance tax changes? Should they fall in line with other types of business? What do you think about threats to block roads? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.