British Farmers Choke London As They Take Out Tractor Rally Against Inheritance Tax: Watch

British farmers protested against inheritance tax changes that tax agricultural assets over £1 million at 20% from 2026, fearing it will reduce food security and harm family farms.

Farmers in Britain choked London on Monday as they took out their tractors in protest against changes to inheritance tax in the country. Under the new rule, inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m will be liable to the tax at 20 per cent from April 2026 which were previously exempted. 

The farmers are concerned that the changes could make the country more reliant on food imports while damaging food security, reported BBC. However, the government said, "This is a fair and balanced approach, which fixes the public services we all rely on, affecting around 500 estates a year."

Simon Broad from Penshurst, who helped organise the protest reminded of recent world events and political unrest saying, "I think we should be very mindful." 

"We need to make sure that we're in control of our own food supply," he told BBC. 

The farmers are also worried about the future of their family farm saying the cash flow in such farms is not enough to pay the taxes. 

"To pay inheritance tax we'd have to cut our farm in half, then [with] what's left you wouldn't make a living off of a few pony paddocks that's left," explained Paul Vicary, from Sevenoaks. 

"So the food security for the country from loyal generational farmers would be gone," he added. 

Farmer Claire Seymour, from Cranbrook who joined the protest demanded the "government need to support us today and keep the industry growing and producing in the UK."

Jazmin Glover, from Brands Hatch, who accompanied Seymour in the protest said she has concerns for the future. "If future tax comes into place we won't be able to afford to take over our family farms and our generation have no chance continuing the industry," she said.

High-profile politicians tried to jump on the bandwagon of the protest as Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, demanded an end to all "death taxes" while addressing the protesting farmers. 

However, the organisers distanced themselves from Farage saying he was attempting to ride politically on the movement.