Hundreds of farmers descended on Whitehall today to take part in a “Pancake Day rally” against Labour’s controversial changes to inheritance tax.
Protesters with combine harvesters and tractors arrived in London this morning for the protest, which was largely on foot as police allowed only a limited number of tractors.
It comes after Met Police stated last month’s demonstration, involving a large number of tractors, caused road in Westminster to be blocked for several hours and caused traffic delays.
Seven machines present at the protest today were pre-agreed with police under the conditions of the Public Order Act, police said.
The march was attended by MPs including the leader of the Conservative party Kemi Badenoch, Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage and shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins.
A farmer was also pictured flipping pancakes from the top of the vehicle and handing them out to protesters, while placards had a Pancake-Day theme.
Labour is pressing ahead with a 20% inheritance tax rate on agricultural land and businesses worth more than £1 million, essentially scrapping an exemption which meant no tax was paid to pass down family farms.
Farmers say that it will force land sales, stall investment, and hurt families lacking succession plans.
Follow the latest updates below...
That's all from us today
16:19 , Daniel KeaneAll roads have reopened in central London as the farmers protest comes to a close.
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Seven farming vehicles were approved, police say
15:09 , Megan HowePolice have said seven farming vehicles at the protest this morning were approved to be there.
Victoria Atkins questions Met Police over protest restrictions
14:10 , Megan HoweShadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins has questioned police over their decision to ban tractors from attending the farmers protest in Whitehall today.
Speaking this afternoon, she said: "When we think of other demonstrations across London that happen on a weekly basis, I wonder whether quite the same restrictions are put in place for them."
Nigel Farage urges farmers to pressure Labour MPs with 'paper thin' majorities
13:50 , Daniel KeaneReform UK leader Nigel Farage urged farmers to pressure Labour MPs in rural constituencies whose majorities are "cigarette paper-thin".
Speaking at the protest, he said: "That is where the pressure is going to come.
"They are 1,500 here and 2,000 there. I think if they (Labour) start to realise that local communities are getting behind the farmers you will see a lot more Labour MPs rebelling."
As Mr Farage spoke, protesters passing by on the march shouted: "Thank you for coming, Nigel."
Mr Farage cited Cornwall as an example of an area with Labour-held seats with a "really quite big rural dynamic".
"I think the really important thing for farmers is, yes, by all means come to London, but you need to be in Truro, regularly," he said.
Badenoch says protest is 'peaceful'
13:31 , Daniel KeaneAsked about the public order conditions imposed by the Met Police, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: "I think we have a peaceful protest here.
"The farmers are more interested in ensuring that people understand what they are going through."
No10 says PM has 'engaged with farmers over their concerns'
13:11 , Daniel KeaneSir Keir Starmer has "engaged with farmers over their concerns" and "made a very big commitment" to them in the Budget, Downing Street has said as demonstrators lined Whitehall in protest over tax increases for land owners.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman added: "We've committed £5billion in support to farmers over next two years. It's the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country's history.
"Our commitment to farmers is steadfast....We're using planning reforms to support food production, making it quicker for farmers to build the infrastructure they need.
“We're delivering fairness across the supply chain, with farmers getting clearer pricing terms and fair competition. You'll have seen the announcements on flood defenses, on food procurement. Across the board we're obviously committed to supporting our farmers and the important role they play."
In Pictures: More signs emerging at the protest
12:58 , Megan Howe
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Pancakes flipped from the top of a combine harvester
12:54 , Megan HoweFarmers have been spotted handing out pancakes to protesters from the top of a combine harvester.
They are flipping the batter and cooking the pancakes from a pan before throwing them down to protesters.
Disco music has been heard playing in the background.
Pancake Day-themed banners at the protest
12:37 , Megan HoweHundreds of farmers have gathered at in Whitehall so far today to protest against the Government’s changes to inheritance tax. Among the crowd is Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.
Shadow environment secretary, Victoria Atkins, has also been spotted at the protest wearing a Union Jack jacket in support of British farmers.
Pancakes are the clear theme of today’s protest, with one banner reading: ‘Forsake of the Pancake!’, while another says: ‘ Farmers matter if we want batter’.
Pictured: Farming vehicles drive up Parliament Street
12:27 , Megan Howe
In Pictures: Farmers turn up to protest against inheritance tax
11:59 , Megan Howe
Farmers face arrest if they bring tractors to today's protest
11:47 , Megan HoweMet Police has warned that farmers face being arrested if they bring tractors to today’s protest.
Conditions have been imposed under the Public Order Act preventing anyone taking part in the protest from bringing tractors, other than a limited number arranged by the organisers with the prior permission of the police.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ben Russell said: “Two previous protests have taken place in the same area, with the same organisers, in recent months.
“The second protest saw a significant number of people attend with tractors and other large farming vehicles. Whitehall was blocked for much of the day and there were lengthy significant delays on surrounding roads.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that protests don’t cause serious disruption to the life of the community and we’ve used our powers under the Public Order Act to ensure that does not happen on Tuesday.
“We have been in regular contact with the organisers to explain our decision making and I’m grateful for the positive and collaborative approach they have taken.”
'We are not getting listened to!' Farmer blasts Starmer for 'ignoring' farmers
11:10 , Megan HoweIn February, the Prime Minister was forced to abandon a visit to a housing project near Milton Keynes after a dozen tractors blocked the road to voice their anger over inheritance tax changes.
Planned media interviews had to be postponed and the visit had to be cut short.
Farmer Philip Weston said: “The reasons why we’re here are still present and they’re not going away. We’re still not being listened to.
“So when we ended up getting a bit of information the other day...it was something we had to act on.”
What has the Government said about the inheritance tax changes?
11:03 , Megan HoweLabour argues that the inheritance tax on farmers is essential to securing funding for the UK’s struggling public services. The environment secretary says this change could raise £200million a year for the NHS and other services, and would not affect most farms.
MP Steve Reed said: “Small family farms will not be affected. Only about 500 estates a year will pay more under the new scheme than they do today.”
A Government spokesperson said: “Our commitment to farmers remains steadfast.
“This Government are investing £5 billion into farming, the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history.
“We are going further with reforms to boost profits for farmers by backing British produce and reforming planning rules on farms to support food production.
“Our reform to agricultural and business property reliefs will mean three quarters of estates will continue to pay no inheritance tax at all, while the remaining quarter will pay half the inheritance tax that most people pay, and payments can be spread over 10 years, interest-free.
“This is a fair and balanced approach which helps fix the public services we all rely on.”
What have MPs said about the inheritance tax changes?
10:36 , Megan HoweShadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins has called the move “vindictive”, arguing that introducing this tax puts domestic food production and security at risk.
“Once again, rural communities will gather in Westminster to show their united opposition to Labour’s vindictive family farms tax.
“Our rural communities have warned repeatedly that Labour’s tax hike is stopping investment, inflicting an enormous emotional toll on farming families and will break family farms,” she said.
Meanwhile, Tim Farron, the Lib Dem environmental spokesperson called the new policy “disastrous” for British farming.
He said: “British farmers are the best in the world. We need them now more than ever to restore nature, provide food security, tackle climate change and support the rural economy.
“The Government must reverse this disastrous family farm tax and instead provide farmers with the support and funding they need to do what is best for the country and for future generations.”
What is the government's new inheritance tax policy for farms?
10:33 , Megan HoweLabour is pressing ahead with a 20% inheritance tax rate on agricultural land and businesses worth more than £1 million, essentially scrapping an exemption which meant no tax was paid to pass down family farms.
Farmers say that it will force land sales, stall investment, and hurt families lacking succession plans.
But the Government has stood firm, calling the move a “fair and balanced approach”.
The Lib Dems and the Conservatives urged Labour to scrap the changes, which are due to come into force from April 2026.
Farmers to gather in London for Pancake Day protest
10:31 , Megan HoweFarmers will return to central London today to protest against inheritance tax for a Pancake Day rally.
Attendees will march from Whitehall at around midday towards Parliament, with the demonstration due to end at around 3pm.
The protest will be largely on foot as police are allowing only a limited number of tractors after last month’s demonstration caused traffic delays.
Farmers who bring tractors in breach of the conditions could face arrest.
Farmer Olly Harrison, one of the organisers, has said the protesters will aim to explain to MPs “the levels of investment needed in agriculture just to produce something simple like a pancake”.
Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates.
