Defying a direct police order, a convoy of farmers drove their tractors into the heart of Westminster on budget day, staging a dramatic protest against proposed inheritance tax changes they say threaten their livelihoods.
Tractors Roll into Westminster Despite Ban
The protest unfolded on Wednesday 26th November 2025, as farmers ignored a Metropolitan Police prohibition on agricultural machinery in the Whitehall area. Police had warned that tractors would cause "serious disruption" to businesses, emergency services, and the public, restricting demonstrations to a specified area on Richmond Terrace.
Despite this, dozens of farmers proceeded, with one tractor prominently parked outside Parliament on Abingdon Street bearing the slogan "Fools vote Labour". Another, driven by a farmer dressed as Father Christmas and carrying a large spruce tree, was stopped on Whitehall. Its sign listed a "naughty list" of figures including Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves, and David Lammy.
The Heart of the Dispute: A 20% Tax on Legacy
The core issue fuelling the anger is Chancellor Rachel Reeves's plan to introduce a 20% inheritance tax on agricultural land and businesses valued at more than £1 million, effective from April 2026.
One of the protest organisers, Dan Willis of Rookery Farms in Berkshire, expressed the depth of feeling to Sky News. He stated he was "absolutely devastated" by the initial ban and explained the emotional weight of the tax, calling it a matter of "death and losing family, a family asset." He argued that taxing the "working people of this country" in such a way makes it impossible for farmers to continue.
Police Face "Carnage" as Farmers Exercise Protest Rights
The Met Police stopped approximately 20 tractors during the demonstration. Dan Willis claimed the police had "scored an own goal" by issuing the ban, as it failed to stop determined farmers and instead "created carnage."
He emphasised that the farmers were independent individuals who had come of their own volition to exercise their democratic right to protest, asserting that the government "doesn't want to listen to us." This event marks the latest in a series of similar demonstrations, following a large tractor protest in Whitehall the previous December.
The agricultural sector is already grappling with significant challenges, including rising costs, difficult market conditions, and the intensifying effects of climate change. Farmers argue that this new tax jeopardises not only their family businesses but also the UK's long-term food security.
