Furious farmers have fired a "shot across the bow" to Labour by refusing to release milling wheat from their stores.
In a fresh round of protests against Rachel Reeves's inheritance tax raid, farmers have been urged to accelerate a bread shortage and "empty supermarket shelves" themselves as Britons have been warned that refusing to release the wheat could lead to a shortage of bread, cake and Hot Cross buns this Easter.
Farmers say the action will illustrate the "fragility of supply chains" and show that dependency on imported wheat and flour from beyond Britain's borders is not reliable.
However, farmers who do not grow wheat have been told they can support the action by heading to their local shop and "buying a bit extra" to "get those shelves empty faster".
Farmers have banded together to illustrate the "fragility of supply chains" and that dependency on imported wheat and flour is not reliable
PA
The goal, according to one of the organisers, is to trigger something akin to "panic-buying" across the nation, similar to what was experienced with petrol and toilet rolls in the past.
The organiser wrote on The Farming Forum blog that all farmers must play their part and "not just milling wheat growers".
In support of the plans, farmers responded on the blog that they would begin buying up bread in bulk.
Responding to the post, one livestock farmer wrote: "Just put 12 loaves in tomorrow's online delivery."
They added: "Milling wheat has a fragile supply chain. As much as anything we need a run of bread buying in the shops.
"No one stopped making loo roll when Covid hit, but look what happened there.
"This is a top idea and the first proper shot across the bows for the Government."
LATEST FARMER FURY:
- Farmers strike across UK as they REFUSE to release milling wheat from stores - Britons could face hot cross bun shortage in Easter misery
- Farmer fears further Labour war ahead of 'concerning' Spring Statement: 'You don't know what's coming next'
- Inheritance tax raid will 'hang over farmers for years', farm owner claims
Milling wheat strike in Uk ?
— Olly harrison 🥛🍔🌱AccidentalYoutuber (@agricontract) March 31, 2025
Will we see #rationing ?
Food security needs to be taken seriously will MPs listen ?
Apr and bpr has united farmers in uk more than ever to stick together & show just how important home grown food is ! pic.twitter.com/JVqGFp9R7W
A second farmer wrote: "Well done to all involved with organising this. And great job to all those backing it.
"I have a couple of old freezers down the yard. Will fire them up tomorrow and go and wipe out our local CoOp."
A third wrote: "Got some looks in Tesco off the staff this morning, as much bread as will fit in freezer, ahead of the game here."
Another supporter wrote below the post: "WhatsApped all extended family with my inside knowledge to get themselves ahead of the game."
They encouraged others to "advise others at the checkout queue to do the same".
One feverish farmer has already headed out to Sainsbury's to buy 60 loaves of bread for £42, captioning his post: "Time to starve Starmer."
It might be April fools day but food shortages are no joke. Empty shelves will be appearing so better pop to your local supermarket and grab a loaf of bread and packet of hot cross buns for Easter before they run out.
— Andrew Ward 🇬🇧🚜 (@wheat_daddy) April 1, 2025
But don’t panic buy ……… pic.twitter.com/EQvlM50h4D
Currently, the planned strike action will last four weeks, but farmers have urged the action to be open-ended to work effectively.
Despite general support for the strike, farmers have insisted that food shortages are "no joke".
Farmer Andy Ward wrote: "Empty shelves will be appearing so better pop to your local supermarket and grab a loaf of bread and packet of hot cross buns for Easter before they run out. But don't panic buy."
Conservative Shadow Health Secretary Victoria Atkins lambasted Labour for its family farm tax.
In response to a video by cereal farmer and campaigner Olly Harrison announcing the action, she wrote on X: "This is the result of Labour’s Family Farm Tax. Labour is breaking British farming.
"They must acknowledge the harm of their policies to farming and food security and axe the Family Farm Tax."
Nevertheless, one builder doubting the action said: "This approach will not help garner more public support, it will do the complete opposite, making folks' lives even harder and playing into Starmer's hands."
In a grilling over the wheat strikes from Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael, Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Daniel Zeicher, said "he was confident in the resilience of supply chains" to handle food security.
A Government spokesman said: "Our food supply chain is well equipped to deal with any potential disruption.
"The Government’s commitment to farmers remains steadfast. That’s £5billion is being invested into farming, the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history, and are going further with reforms to boost profits for farmers by backing British produce and reforming planning rules on farms to support food production.
"Our reform to Agricultural and Business Property Reliefs will mean three quarters of estates will continue to pay no inheritance tax at all, while the remaining quarter will pay half the inheritance tax that most people pay, and payments can be spread over 10 years, interest-free. This is a fair and balanced approach which helps fix the public services we all rely on."