The leader of the National Farmers Union (NFU) vowed that Tuesday’s mass protest in London against a proposed inheritance tax extension was “just the beginning” of action to persuade the government to reverse the move. policy.

Between 10,000 and 20,000 protesters descended on Whitehall, including members of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association (TBA), to show their anger at the tax proposal revealed in last month’s budget, while 1,800 members of the NFU also met their MPs at Westminster.

The leaders of the Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Reform parties – Kemi Badenoch, Sir Ed Davey and Nigel Farage – as well as TV presenter and racehorse owner Jeremy Clarkson were among those protesting against the plan to impose a tax on inheritances of 20 percent on agricultural assets of a higher value. more than a million pounds sterling. These assets were previously exempt.

Tom Bradshaw, president of the NFU, said: “Our demand is very simple: this is a policy that will rip the hearts out of Britain’s family farms, launched on bad data without consultation and which must be stopped. and examined correctly.

Demonstrators took to Whitehall to protest against inheritance tax reformCredit: Wiktor Szymanowicz

“If it doesn’t work today, other opportunities will arise. We need to be a united industry with a united voice, to say what this means to you.

The impact on breeders and stud farms of the extension of inheritance tax from April 2026, combined with the planned increase in National Insurance contributions by employers from April next year, has been discussed by the likes of TBA President Philip Newton, who said it would “accelerate” the demise of these little stallions, either through estate planning or death sale.

Farmers’ concerns were recognized on Tuesday by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Environment Secretary Steve Reed and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who reiterated their belief that the majority of properties would not be affected by the tax change.

Speaking to reporters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Starmer said: “If you take a typical case, parents want to pass on their farm to one of their children. . . By the time you factor in the other income tax thresholds, only those with assets over £3 million will start paying inheritance tax, and that’s why I’m confident that the vast majority of farms will not be affected at all. »

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