Hundreds of farmers came together in a North Yorkshire market town to show their support for a national day of protest over the government’s agricultural policy.
More than 300 farmers and supporters gathered in Thirsk market place on Tuesday, with many holding banners calling for ministers to “Back British Farming”.
Tractors carrying flags parked up on the cobbles, and passing motorists sounded their car horns in support of the demonstration.
It was timed to coincide with protests in London, where tens of thousands of farmers angry about plans to impose inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1m converged on Westminster. The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) held a mass lobby of MPs with 1,800 of its members urging backbenchers to oppose the policy.
The Thirsk rally was organised by Phil and Clare Wise, who farm at nearby Skipton-on-Swale, for those who couldn’t make it to London. They stressed the protest was not just about inheritance tax, but about calling for a sustainable future for the industry, amid concerns over rises in National Insurance Contributions and the National Minimum Wage, and changes to carbon rules which may increase the price of fertiliser. The Government plans to introduce the UK Carbon Border Adjustment from January 1, 2027.
Mr and Mrs Wise, who were joined at the rally by son Richard, 14, and daughter Katie, ten, also pointed out how farmgate prices have not kept pace with inflation.
On National Insurance, Mr Wise said: “This is going to have a bigger impact on agricultural employers. I spoke to an agricultural feed merchant; the NIC rise is going to add £50,000 to his wage bill alone. To cover this cost, they need to acquire 52 new customers. It is unrealistic and therefore they will have to pass this price on, along with the increase in National Minimum Wage, to current customers.
“Our industry cannot cope with these price increases. Without farming the countryside, towns, villages, pubs and shops will all cease to exist.
“All of the above is having an impact on farmers’ mental health, therefore we all need to stand together.”
Yorkshire Vet Peter Wright attended the rally to show his support for farmers. “I think this government has really lost touch with rural areas,” he said. “I don’t think they understand the slightest thing about farming, and in particular our rural way of life.
“This is going to be the death knell for many small family farms.”
Farmer’s daughter Stephanie Ashbridge, from Thirlby, brought a group of children along to the rally from nearby Ash Park Childcare.
She said it was an important show of strength for the farming community, and added: “Many farmers are lonely, and we are here today to show them they have our support.”
The inheritance tax changes for farming businesses limit the existing 100 per cent relief for farms to only the first £1m of combined agricultural and business property. Some warn they will have to sell off land to meet the costs.
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Last month’s Budget also sped up the phase-out of EU-era subsidies as funding is switched to nature-friendly farming schemes.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw gave a speech to members taking part in the mass lobby ahead of their meetings with MPs, at Church House, Westminster.
He said: “We know the horrendous pressure it is putting on the older generation of farmers who have given everything to providing food for this country.
“We know that any tax revenue will be taken from our children and raised from those that die in tragic circumstances, all within the next seven years.”
Mr Bradshaw said the latest analysis by the NFU suggested 75 per cent of commercial farms, over 50 acres, would be affected by the changes.
But Environment Secretary Steve Reed insisted only a few hundred farms would be impacted.
And he denied that Labour, which has many more MPs in rural areas since the general election, did not understand the countryside.
He said: “This Labour Government has just allocated £5bn to support sustainable food production in the UK.
“That’s the biggest budget of that kind in our country’s history and it shows that we’re backing farmers.” He outlined other measures to support farmers on issues such as flooding and trade and added: “All of that shows farmers that this is a government on their side and the changes to inheritance tax will affect only around 500 farms. The vast majority of farmers will pay nothing more.”
Outside on the streets of Whitehall, celebrities including Jeremy Clarkson joined farmers for the protest. He said: “I’m here to support the farmers, it’s that simple, because they need all the help they can get really, even from me.”
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