The Government announced it would impose a 20 percent inheritance tax on agricultural assets valued over £1 million for the first time in last October’s Budget. This decision has sparked outrage among UK farmers, leading to several protests, including a significant one in London on February 10.
The tractor rally was organized by Save British Farming as MPs debated an e-petition that garnered over 148,000 signatures to maintain current inheritance tax exemptions for working farms.
Alan Daly and his son, Rafael, began their journey from the Wantage area at around 6 am to participate in what Alan described as a “very peaceful” protest.
The Daly farm, located just outside Wantage, spans 12 acres, and Alan aspires to pass it on to his son. Rafael, depicted here feeding the pigs, expressed concerns over the tax’s impact on their modest property. “It’s just really badly thought-through. Farmers are really suffering at the moment,” said Alan, aged 50.
The 75-mile journey to London took the Dalys four hours on their tractor. Despite the long trip, the support they received from the British public was “incredible,” making them feel like “rock stars.”
Alan shares, “Cars were going past us hooting, people were clapping us on the street. It was like we’d won the World Cup. The way we were treated in London was truly uplifting.” He believes the British public understands the potential negative impact this inheritance tax could have on farmers and how it might affect food prices.
No stranger to activism, Alan and Rafael participated in a demonstration outside Siemens Healthineers in Eynsham the previous month as Chancellor Rachel Reeves spoke on economic growth.
Alan remarks on the situation, “It’s quite sad that it’s come to this. But we’re not going away—we want to hand our farm to the next generation.” He hopes the Government will acknowledge their plight and act accordingly.
Rafael at the protest in London, held out hope for change. “We just want to be able to put food on our table and for the British public. We aim to transfer our farm to the next generation without this burden. But if it means returning to London in our tractors, we’ll do it.”
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