Rachel Reeves has claimed her inheritance tax raid on farmers will fund the NHS as protesters descend on London.
The Chancellor, who ended agricultural death duty exemptions in her maiden Budget last month, dug her heels in as ex-Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson joins farmers in the capital.
She will now force farms worth more than £1million to face a 20 per cent inheritance tax levy.
Reeves, who is under fire over the accuracy of her seemingly coveted CV, said that Sir Keir Starmer's Government had “taken difficult decisions” to fill funding gaps.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed added: “The reforms to agricultural property relief ensure that wealthier estates and the most valuable farms pay their fair share to invest in our schools and health services that farmers and families in rural communities rely on.”
Despite Labour defending the policy, the National Farmers’ Union has 1,800 members registered to lobby their local MPs in person in Westminster, while a separate protest has 15,000 people registered to attend a rally at Richmond Terrace.
Speaking just hours before today’s protest, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "Good luck to everyone protesting today against Labour’s demented family farm tax.
"Farmers work all hours and all year round to feed this country. We should be doing more to champion British food and keep our farmers on the land.
"Instead Reeves is clobbering British agriculture with a tax that is spiteful and punitive and economically disastrous. End it now."
FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…
WATCH NOW: Andrew Lloyd Webber issues stark warning as farmers protest Labour's death duty raid
Andrew Lloyd Webber has spoken to GB News from the farmers’ protest in London, hitting out at the “confused” Government for its inheritance tax changes.
The world-renowned composer told Bev Turner he has worked on a farm for 40 years himself but his decision to attend today’s Westminster rally was “not about him”.
The West End stalwart hit out on GB News about the “myth” that farmers are “swimming in cash” as he called for the Labour Government to reconsider its position.
Atkins brands Starmer 'farmer harmer' in rallying cry outside Parliament
PA
Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins has branded Sir Keir Starmer a "farmer harmer" after Chancellor Rachel Reeves ended agricultural inheritance tax exemptions.
Speaking on College Green, Atkins said: “They have reduced the payments that our farmers rely on, which means I have tenant farmers saying to me that next year they don’t know if they can pay their rent.”
She added: “What we are doing today ladies and gentleman, is putting our boots on, standing with our farmers and saying to farmer garner Starmer that it’s not good enough.”
Jeremy Clarkson arrives in London as he joins forces with furious farmers in 'tractor tax' protest
Jeremy Clarkson, 64, has been pictured arriving in London to join thousands of other farmers protesting the government's so-called "tractor tax".
The Clarkson's Farm star, who is also recovering from a recent heart operation, has been a vocal opponent of Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Budget ever since she unveiled its measures last month.
Clarkson joins the thousands of farmers who are descending on Westminster to protest against Labour's controversial inheritance tax changes, with up to 40,000 people expected to join the demonstrations.
Starmer hit by revolt from within own ranks as Scottish Labour vows to REIMPOSE Winter Fuel Payments
Scottish Labour has pledged to bring back the winter fuel payment for all pensioners north of the border in a blow to Sir Keir Starmer.
Anas Sarwar's party has made the pledge to bring the policy back if they win the 2026 Holyrood election.
It comes after the Starmer announced the pensioner perk would only be available to those in receipt of pension credit or other benefits, just weeks after taking office.
Badenoch joins farmers as top Tories warn Starmer is 'farmer harmer'
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has been snapped alongside farmers protesting Labour's inheritance tax raid.
The Leader of the Opposition was spotted alongside Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins and Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel.
Most senior Tories were clutching placards opposing the "family farm tax".
However, Shadow Work & Pensions Secretary Helen Whately's sign accused the Prime Minister of being a "farmer harmer".
'No food, no future!' Protesters hold up placards opposing Reeves' tractor tax grab
GB NEWS
Hundreds of farmers have descended on Whitehall today in protest against Rachel Reeves' inheritance tax grab.
Protesters were seen holding up several placards, including: "Fight the tax, save our farms."
Another sign said: "Back a farmer, not Starmer". A third warned: "No farmers, no food, no future."
NFU chief receives three cheers as Bradshaw bemoans 'horrendous' tax
GETTY/PA
National Farmers' Union boss Tom Bradshaw has received three cheers after opening a mass lobby event against Labour's inheritance tax raid in Westminster.
Addressing hundreds of farmers on Tuesday, Bradshaw said: "We know that horrendous pressure this is putting on the older generation of farmers, who have given everything to provide your food for this country.
"The human impact of this policy is simply not acceptable.”
He also said the policy was “kicking the legs out of food security”.
Reform UK quartet gather in Westminster ahead of farmers protest
Reform UK MPs gathering in Westminster
GETTY
Reform UK MPs have started to gather in Westminster to protest against Labour's inheritance tax raid on farmers.
James McMurdock, Richard Tice, Lee Anderson and Rupert Lowe were snapped as farmers started to arrive at Richmond Terrace.
As many as 15,000 people could attend the rally today, with 1,500 NFU members registered to lobby their local MPs.
Atkins slams 'economically illiterate' Labour after Reeves claims inheritance tax raid will fund NHS
'Economically illiterate! We know this is going to raise a fraction of what we put into the NHS.
— GB News (@GBNEWS) November 19, 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Victoria Atkins, criticises Labour's claim that inheritance tax changes are being made to fund the NHS. pic.twitter.com/pSRwvbc26l
Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins has slammed Labour as "economically illiterate" after Chancellor Rachel Reeves claimed her inheritance tax raid will fund the NHS.
Speaking to GB News, Atkins said: "This claim that Labour has come up with today ... is economically illiterate.
"We know this is going to raise a fraction of what, in fact, we put into the NHS."
'Out of touch!' Essex Police chief faces backlash over 'shocking' Allison Pearson probe
The policing chief at the heart of the Allison Pearson row has come under fire after defending Essex Police's decision to investigate the journalist.
Roger Hirst, the Police & Crime Commissioner for Essex, was labelled "out of touch in every way" after he claimed officers would not ignore alleged crimes "just because it's politically sensitive".
Free Speech Union chief Toby Young also said it "may shock" residents to learn that Hirst was a Conservative.
He added: "You would have thought the fact that NCHIs [non-crime hate incidents] have been recorded against so many senior Conservative politicians, including an ex-Home Secretary, a former vice-chairman of the party and the deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives, would be a wake-up call.
"But apparently not. I guess we'll have to wait until Roger Hirst has an NCHI recorded against him for the penny to finally drop."
Reeves receives damning letter after retail giants warn job losses 'inevitable' after Budget
More than 70 of Britain's largest retailers have warned Chancellor Rachel Reeves that her National Insurance hike will lead to job losses and inevitable price increases across the high street.
The retailers claim that a combination of new costs, including increased employers' National Insurance, higher minimum wage requirements and new packaging levies, could burden the industry with up to £7bn in additional annual expenses.
Major chains including Aldi, Lidl, Boots, Ocado, Morrisons, Greggs and JD Sports signed the open letter despite reported attempts by the Treasury to discourage them from doing so.
Farage fumes against ECHR after Strasbourg blocks Britain from deporting paedophile convicted of sexual assault
The ECHR has stopped Britain from deporting a paedophile convicted of sexual assault.
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) November 18, 2024
This is why we must leave it. pic.twitter.com/vqRR1L42uX
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has fumed against the European Convention on Human Rights after Strasbourg blocked Britain from deporting a paedophile convicted of sexual assault.
Farage, who is now hoping to win over support for leaving the court, fumed after a man in his early 50s from the Democratic Republic of Congo was jailed for three years in 2020 for a string of “appalling” offences.
He said: "If you're not convinced by this, nothing will ever convince you."
You may like
