In pictures | UK farmers protest outside Parliament against tax hike

Thousands of UK farmers gathered outside Parliament on Tuesday to protest the Keir Starmer-led government decision to scrap a long-standing inheritance tax break on agricultural property. (Reuters photo)

The new policy, effective April 2026, will impose a 20% tax on farms worth over £1 million– a move farmers say threatens their survival. (Reuters photo)

Protesters carried banners and drove tractors through central London, voicing concerns that the tax would harm family farms already struggling with rising costs, volatile weather, and post-Brexit challenges. (Reuters photo)

National Farmers’ Union President Tom Bradshaw called the policy a blow to food security and farm viability. (Reuters photo)

The Labour government defends the tax as a means to generate funds for public services, asserting that about 75% of farms will remain exempt. (Reuters photo)

Supporters argue it will deter wealthy investors from using farmland to evade taxes, but critics say the measure fails to account for small farmers’ financial struggles, as profits often don’t match land values. (Reuters photo)

Farmers have warned of escalating protests if their concerns are not addressed, with some saying they are ready to adopt tactics used in France, including roadblocks and large-scale demonstrations. (Reuters photo)