Nigel Farage has called on farmers to continue “persistent and peaceful” campaigning on new inheritance tax rules – claiming that Labour MPs in rural seats would be “getting scared”.
The Reform UK leader was speaking before a large tractor protest outside the Houses of Parliament this morning.
He added that future protests would put pressure on Number 10 if they see “local communities getting behind these families” who will be impacted by the changes.
Labour has insisted it will not make a U-turn on its plans to introduce a 20% inheritance tax rate on farms worth more than £1m.
The changes announced in the budget are due to come into force in April 2026 and scrap an exemption which meant no inheritance tax was paid to pass down family farms.
Monday’s rally, organised by Save British Farming, comes as MPs debate an e-petition with more than 148,000 signatures that calls for the current inheritance tax exemptions for working farms to be kept.
Speaking at a Farmers To Action campaign event in north London before the protest in Westminster, Mr Farage said: “I’m pleased to see the campaign is ramping up. It’s growing right across the country.”
He added: “The message I’ve been putting to them, I think they’re listening to, which is 100 Labour MPs now represent rural seats – if they see local communities getting behind these families, they’re going to start getting scared, and they’re going to start putting pressure on No 10, and let’s face it, they’re in pretty big trouble already.
“So I think if this campaign is persistent and peaceful, they can get change.”
Read more on tax changes for farms:
Most farmers unaffected by tax changes – IFS
More farms could be hit than government said – analysis
Mr Farage, who was joined at the event by professional boxer Derek Chisora, said the protesters had been “behaving impeccably” and should continue to be “voluble, but peaceful within the law”.
Mr Farage also advocated “just getting rid of inheritance tax as a whole”.
“You’re basically taxing money that’s been taxed already as a death tax, and it’s horrible,” he said.
“People living in semi-detached houses in London are now dragged into inheritance tax. And yes, of course, you can do seven-year planning and all the rest of it, but unlikely things happen. I honestly believe just getting rid of inheritance tax as a whole would be a good thing.”
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The National Farmers’ Union – which has organised previous protests on the issue – said it supports any of its members taking part on Monday.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “The strength of feeling around the proposed family farm tax is still incredibly high.
“We support any members who want to take part in other respectful and lawful demonstrations which work towards our aim to stop the family farm tax.”
The government says only a small number of the largest farming estates will be affected by its planned tax changes.
