Speaking ahead of his appearance today, NFU president Tom Bradshaw said it was vital ‘farmers kept the pressure on'.
"We have to keep this as a live issue so the Government is aware that it has not gone away," he told Farmers Guardian. "Today's event is another opportunity to do that."
Mr Bradshaw said he had also been in Westminster to speak to MPs ahead of a debate on the changes to Inheritance Tax, which is due to take place at 4.30pm today. The event was triggered by an e-petition on the plans which amassed 150,000 signatures.
"I have been inside with a group of younger NFU members putting the case to MPs and I will be back in there later to see what they have to say in the debate.
"It is all about speaking to people - making the Government think again and make some changes," he said.
"As farmers it is great that we are continuing to unite and build the pressure which must be done in a respectful and peaceful way. We want to maintain public support which is a vital part of this."
However, despite farmers' actions, Mr Bradshaw said from a government perspective it seemed to be ‘business as usual'.
"We have got to just keep building the pressure and hope we can impress on ministers why they need to change," he added.
- Get updates throughout the day from Farmers Guardian
Organised by Save British Farming founder Liz Webster, in a podcast with FG last week Ms Webster said this protest should be a showcase of unity.
NFU
NFU president Tom Bradshaw will also make a speech at today's rally, as part of 'Change Your Tune Starmer', an event running alongside. Mr Bradshaw will address the gathering from 3.15pm, with Welsh sheep farmer Gareth Wyn-Jones, food poverty campaigner Dominic Watters and CLA deputy president Gavin Lane.
🔊 @ProagriLtd: "If Gov thinks we'll go away, they don't understand you, they don't understand farming and they don't understand farmers." 🚨
— Farmers Guardian (@FarmersGuardian) February 10, 2025
📍 NFU president Tom Bradshaw addressing packed crowds at today's #FarmerProtest in London. 📣🪧 pic.twitter.com/ZxHd7Zph1j
NFU Scotland
In his first trip out of the office as NFU Scotland president, newly-elected Andrew Connon said: "NFU Scotland, and the other UK farming unions, are calling on the Treasury to pause, re-think and properly consult due to the serious negative impact the proposals for inheritance tax (IHT) reforms would have on growth and employment in the agricultural sector, the wider rural economy and on the nation's food security.
"We strongly believe that proper consultation would ensure that any reforms to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) will better enable the UK Government to meet its fiscal objectives; working family farm businesses would not be arbitrarily broken up on death and the land available for agricultural tenancies would not be reduced."
Mr Connon also highlighted the 'growing number of independent studies' contradicting the Treasury's figures; which show that the rural economy and Britain's food security would be much more greatly threatened than the Government believes.
"The government has misjudged this, has not consulted, and must get around the table to discuss it so that we can allow family farming businesses to farm for the next generation."
Gathering at Whitehall
11-year-old Fraser Jack from Banbury is showing his support for family farms. 👏👏
— Farmers Guardian (@FarmersGuardian) February 10, 2025
📍#FarmersProtest, London pic.twitter.com/t8HoBoSxlw
🗣️ ‘Government need to wake up' 🚨🪧
Beef farmer Matthew Pickford from Thame, Oxfordshire, gives his thoughts on today's #farmersprotest. 🚜 @FGoliviamidgley
Full protest updates 🔗 https://t.co/dFZc66wHTM pic.twitter.com/Bdegwo3Nx5— Farmers Guardian (@FarmersGuardian) February 10, 2025
🚨 The noise is incredible. 📣🚜 #SaveBritainsFamilyFarms
📍 #FarmersProtest, London pic.twitter.com/LbR5mPG0Tx— Farmers Guardian (@FarmersGuardian) February 10, 2025
Farmers travel to London
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