Drivers 'trapped' as tractors used to blockade port

Drivers were 'trapped' as farmers staged a protest about inheritance tax at a port last night. Several tractors were used to block access to Holyhead Port in North Wales from around 10pm on Wednesday evening (November 27).

The demonstration continued until around 2am on Thursday, leading to heavy congestion in the area. The farmers are opposed to the Labour government's decision to make them pay a rate of 20% inheritance tax on agricultural property and land worth more than £1m - when they previously paid none.

Rob George, 49, a HGV driver from Waterloo, was travelling back to Merseyside when he saw the demonstration. He told the ECHO last night: “We noticed a few tractors and thought where are they going? They’ve parked across the roundabout which enters and exits the port so no traffic can get in or out.

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“I’ve come from Sandhills to drop off at the port at Holyhead and go back to Liverpool. We’re trapped - 25 wagons behind me can’t go anywhere.

"There’s about 40-50 farmers standing in the middle of the roundabout. Port authorities and police are speaking to them. A ferry was due in at 10.30pm - it’s going to cause mayhem with people coming from holidays in Ireland.”

Stena Line operates the Welsh port. A spokesperson told the ECHO: “Last night (November 27) at approximately 22:00, a number of protesters and vehicles arrived at Holyhead Port blocking entry to the port in response to elements of the recent government budget announcements.

"Car traffic and foot passengers from incoming ferries disembarked safely and were permitted to exit the port through an alternative route. At 02:00, the demonstration ceased, and normal port operations resumed.”

Sir Keir Starmer met privately with the leader of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) earlier this week amid the ongoing row over inheritance tax changes. Downing Street described the Monday night 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. Asked about reports of an undisclosed meeting, a No 10 spokesman said: “The Prime Minister did meet the National Farmers’ Union president Tom Bradshaw on Monday afternoon.

“They had a wide-ranging conversation in which the Prime Minister recognised the strength of feeling about the changes to agricultural property relief set out in the Budget and listened to the NFU’s concerns.” The Prime Minister and Mr Bradshaw are also understood to have touched upon food security, trade, and other issues affecting farmers.

The Downing Street spokesman added: “In the meeting they discussed the government’s commitments to solidly protecting the interests of British farmers including in trade negotiations and in public sector procurement, as well as working together to ensure environmental land management schemes deliver for farmers. We will always meet with key stakeholders to hear their views, as that is what a serious, grown-up government does.

“But the Prime Minister took the opportunity to have a constructive conversation with Mr Bradshaw about why we believe the changes are the right approach and to discuss how they can work together to support British farmers.”

Mr Bradshaw meanwhile said: “I welcome the Prime Minister asking to hear directly about farmers’ concerns, and I am grateful to him for taking the time to do so. I hope we can work together towards a resolution on this issue.”