Major London roads gridlocked during farmers’ protest outside Parliament
Farmers have once again brought the centre of London to a standstill with their latest protest against tax changes.
Tractors have packed onto Whitehall, the Westminster base for many government departments, for the third time in four months as they voice their anger at Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
The mass demonstration was also attended by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who addressed participants at a in north London before the event in parliament, and Conservative figures including shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel.
Reeves announced at her budget last year that farms worth more than £1 million would no longer be exempt from inheritance tax.
Those changes are due to come into effect in April next year, with Labour insisting it will not make a U-turn on the plans.
Farage said: ‘I’m pleased to see the campaign is ramping up. It’s growing right across the country.
‘The message I’ve been putting to them, I think they’re listening too, which is 100 Labour MPs now represent rural seats – if they see local communities getting behind these families, they’re going to start getting scared, and they’re going to start putting pressure on No 10, and let’s face it, they’re in pretty big trouble already.’
Banners on display on Whitehall read ‘We can’t afford to feed you anymore’ and ‘No farmers, no food’.
Dame Priti posed with a sign saying ‘Keir Starmer: Farmer Harmer’.
The Metropolitan Police announced Whitehall was closed off to vehicles with diversions in place.
Due to the extent of the turnout, the road closure was later extended to Northumberland Avenue which links Trafalgar Square to the Embankment.
A post from the Met on X said: ‘Officers are working to minmise disruption to other routes, but there are delays in the area.’
Farmers previously brought gridlock to the streets outside Parliament in November and December.
National Farmers’ Union president Tom Bradshaw said: ‘The strength of feeling around the proposed family farm tax is still incredibly high.
‘We support any members who want to take part in other respectful and lawful demonstrations which work towards our aim to stop the family farm tax.’
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