Farmers in East Anglia staged their third go-slow tractor protest on Monday, voicing opposition to proposed inheritance tax changes set to affect agricultural assets over £1m from April 2026. About 100 tractors began their convoy at 10:00 GMT in Ipswich, travelling along the A14 to Felixstowe and back. Organisers described the demonstration as “a show of strength” against government plans.
Russell Abbott, a leading member of East Anglian Farmers Unite, farms at Crag Pit Farm in Tattingstone. He told BBC Radio Suffolk, “There are various farmers and organisations that have set up to show a sign of strength before we head to London on Wednesday. We want to show the unity that we do have in our industry and we want to be heard.” He added that farmers were “worried” about their futures and hoped the government would “start to take heed of our warning.”
Previous go-slow protests took place in February and December, following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcement of the proposed tax changes in her Budget speech last November. Another demonstration is planned in London this Wednesday, coinciding with the government’s next budget announcement.
Farmers at Monday’s protest emphasised the wider impact of agriculture on society. Richard Wrinch, a Shotley farmer, said, “It keeps the profile there, it shows the unity of our industry and I think that it is essential to keep those who have got an influence on the decisions aware of the feeling of the agriculture industry.”
Will Hitchcock, who farms at Ringshall, explained the urgency felt by many in the sector. “We had to keep pushing on because there is too much to lose to sit back and do nothing,” he said. “For the greater good of everyone involved, not just farmers, no end of other businesses depend on farmers, it is society as a whole. We are producing food for people. Everyone eats three times a day, we are here for them.”
Cath Crowther, regional director at the Country Land and Business Association, highlighted the misconception that farmers are wealthy. “While farmers may look wealthy on paper, their money instead sits in assets that cannot be sold, like machinery, land, property and livestock. They are required to be able to grow food and put food on your tables, so we need to ensure that they understand that this is an unaffordable tax,” she said. Crowther added that most farmers already pay other taxes, and very few currently face inheritance tax. “These changes will really impact on the profitability and viability of farming and wider family businesses,” she said.
Suffolk Police monitored the protest to ensure safety as tractors moved in convoy along the A14. Some vehicles carried signs reading, “Save our farms. Save our future. Fight the tax” and “Family farms. Not corporate farms.”
A government spokesperson said that while farmers were demonstrating concerns, the government was “backing British farms with £1m annual investment allowance for plant and machinery investments, billions for sustainable food, and action to cut EU export costs.” They noted that 40% of agricultural property relief, worth £219m, goes to just 117 estates, and reforms would redirect funding toward vital public services.
The demonstration underlined the growing tensions between the farming community and policymakers. Farmers insist their message is clear: the survival of family farms and food production in the UK depends on recognition and support rather than additional taxation pressures.
