Watch: Tractors descend on London in protest at tax raid

Hundreds of farmers in tractors have descended on London in protest against the Government’s inheritance tax raid.

Tractors lined up in Westminster on Wednesday morning before a planned slow-drive around central London.

Driving around Parliament Square, many tractors were decorated with Union flags and signs that read: “No farmers, no food”, “Not hungry, thank a farmer” and “Save British Farming”.

The RIP British Farming protest is organised by Kent Fairness for Farmers and Save British Farming.

Attending the protest, Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, encouraged farmers to keep campaigning across the country.

He told The Telegraph: “In the 100 rural constituencies Labour now holds, they have to keep up this pressure. It has to be persistent in every market town.

“I believe this campaign will win but it won’t happen quickly and it will take time.”

In a direct message to the Government, Mr Farage added: “Wake up and smell the coffee, it’s happening. You are going to lose all the seats in those rural areas if you don’t change the rules.”

Martin Brandreth, 37, and his father Joe, 65, woke at dawn to embark on the six hour drive in their tractors from their farm near Coventry, Warwickshire.

They attended last month’s rally but this time arrived in their own vehicles. Festively decorated with Christmas lights and a sign reading “British Farming – Keir Today Gone Tomorrow”, the dairy and arable farmers called on the inheritance tax raid to be scrapped.

Mr Brandreth said: “The general public’s response has been immense. The amount of people saying ‘we’re backing you’ is encouraging. We just hope the people up top listen.

“I think they will U-turn eventually – if not, then at least an adaption to the rules.”

His father Joe, the third generation farmer on the site, added: “If there was any other industry where people earn the minimum wage, the government wouldn’t expect them to pay £500,000.”

Chris Clowes, who works on his parents’ 200 acre farm, said the Government had “kicked the hornets nest” with the tax.

The 28-year-old cattle and sheep farmer said his brother cannot make enough money on the farm so has to get additional work on others.

“There is worry and anxiety for all the farmers,” he said. He urged the Government to “get people eating local food”.

“Local food is better, it’s better for the environment. The fact imported food is cheaper is insane.”

Last month, more than 10,000 farmers took to the streets of the capital to protest against changes introduced in the budget that would mean farms worth more than £1 million are subject to a 20 per cent inheritance tax.

Campaigners have said the changes would force the break-up of family farms to pay tax bills, undermining the industry and threatening food security.