Farmers across the United Kingdom are staging widespread protests against proposed tax reforms, including a controversial plan to remove a long-standing inheritance tax break on agricultural property.
The government has announced that starting in April 2026, farms valued at over £1 million ($1.3 million) will face a 20% inheritance tax when passed to the next generation. The change would overturn a tax exemption that has been in place since the 1990s, which has allowed farm properties to be transferred without incurring inheritance tax.
Protesters argue that the proposed tax hike will devastate family-run farms already struggling with rising costs and market pressures.
“This change will destroy the future of small, family-owned farms,” said one protester at a rally in Yorkshire. “It’s hard enough to make ends meet without being hit with such a massive tax burden.”
Farming advocacy groups have also raised concerns, warning that the tax reform could lead to the sale of family farms to larger corporations, further consolidating the agricultural sector and eroding rural communities.
The government has defended the proposal, stating that it aims to create a fairer tax system while generating revenue for public services. However, critics argue that it disproportionately targets small-scale farmers who lack the resources to absorb such costs.
Nationwide demonstrations are planned in the coming weeks as farmers call on policymakers to reconsider the changes and protect the viability of family farming traditions.
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