Several arrests at Westminster farmers' protest over inheritance tax plans

Several arrests were made as farmers drove tractors into central London for a Budget day protest over plans to put inheritance tax on farm businesses worth more than £1m.

More than a dozen tractors could be seen parked outside Parliament on Wednesday morning, with rush-hour traffic brought to a standstill and farmers repeatedly sounding the tractor horns while police stood watching.

David Gunn, an arable farmer and agricultural contractor from near Sevenoaks in Kent, said: "Inheritance tax is going to cripple the farmers, the small family farmers."

A government spokesperson said: "We are backing farmers with the largest nature‑friendly budget in history with over £2.7bn a year to grow their businesses."

Mr Gunn said of the plans which are due to come into force in April: "There's all the other taxes they've been putting on us, and the prices we get for our produce and what it costs in the shop, we don't make any money.

"Then there's food security, farmers are going out of business."

He said his message to government was: "Sort the pledge out."

"You said in the manifesto you would look after the farmers, which you totally haven't, you've ruined the countryside," he said.

Tyler Carter, 18, from Peterborough, was also among the campaigners gathered in Trafalgar Square.

He held a sign reading: "Dear London sorry … I'm here to fight for my future!"

When asked what the reforms would mean for him, he said: "It means my dad will be out of a job, which means I will be out of a job.

"We have worked hard for what we've got and don't deserve to have it taken off us."

The Metropolitan Police had warned that "anyone breaching conditions by bringing vehicles, including tractors or agricultural vehicles, to today's farmers protest will be asked by officers to leave".

A force spokesperson said on Wednesday: "The majority have listened to officers and complied with the conditions, however, several arrests have been made."

Reform UK said it would pay for the defence of farmers arrested at the demonstration, saying it was "outrageous".

Wednesday's protest came as Chancellor Rachel Reeves faced pressure from farmers to axe the plans to introduce inheritance tax on farming land and businesses.

The chancellor's plans to introduce a 20% rate on agricultural land and businesses worth more than £1m have become a political flashpoint for a sector struggling with rising costs, tough market conditions and worsening climate impacts.

There was slightly better news for farmers on inheritance tax in Wednesday's budget.

The government is allowing spouses to transfer any of their £1m allowance before inheritance tax kicks in between partners.

So if one partner dies and only uses part of their allowance, the surviving partner could have an allowance of more than £1m.

This has been welcomed by the National Farmers' Union, although they say more needs to be done to reduce the impact on farmers.

But the government has frozen the £1m allowance for a further year – along with other inheritance tax thresholds – until April 2031.

That could drag more farms into paying the tax.

A HM Treasury spokesperson said: "We are also delivering on extending the Seasonal Worker Visa Scheme, protecting British produce in trade deals, investing hundreds of millions in grants and biosecurity, and driving fairer supply chains.

"Our reforms to Agricultural and Business Property Relief will safeguard public services while keeping inheritance tax fair – with three quarters of estates paying nothing, and the rest paying half the usual rate, spread over 10 years interest‑free."

Additional reporting from PA Media.