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Huge combine harvesters arrive in London for Pancake Day rally after police tractor ban
Huge combine harvesters have arrived in London for a “Pancake Day rally” after police banned tractors from the capital.
Thousands of farmers are expected to descend on London today for a protest from Whitehall towards Parliament at midday over inheritance tax changes.
The Met Police has banned all “mechanically propelled vehicles” from London following protests last month that saw hundreds of tractors disrupt traffic across the city.
A small number of farming vehicles have been allowed into London with prior permission from the police. It is unclear if the three four-metre tall combine harvesters parked in Whitehall were approved.
The march is the latest action being taken by farmers who are unhappy over Labour’s plan to bring in a 20 per cent inheritance tax rate on agricultural land and businesses worth more than £1m.
Farmer Olly Harrison, one of the organisers, has said the protesters will aim to explain to MPs “the levels of investment needed in agriculture just to produce something simple like a pancake”.
The Lib Dems and the Conservatives have urged Labour to scrap the changes, which are due to come into force from April 2026.
Key points
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Protesting farmers turn up in huge combine harvesters
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Farmers could be arrested if they drive tractors at rally, police warn
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Farmers to gather in London for pancake day protest against inheritance tax
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Third Labour MP speaks out against inheritance tax plans
Pictured: Farming vehicles drive up Parliament Street
11:00 , Alexander Butler
A JCB tractor drives along Parliament Street (Alex Croft/The Independent)
A forage harvester drives among traffic in Whitehall (Alex Croft/The Independent)
Tractors and harvesters drive onto Parliament Street
10:52 , Alexander Butler
Dozens of tractors and harvesters have started driving onto Parliament Street, Alex Croft reports.
The huge vehicles were parked off the main thoroughfare this morning. It is not clear if they have permission to be there or not.
The Met Police banned all “mechanically propelled vehicles” from London following protests last month that saw hundreds of tractors disrupt traffic across the city.
However, a small number of farming vehicles have been allowed into London with prior permission from the police.
A four-metre tall Grimme sugar beat driving on to Parliament Street (Alex Croft/The Independent)
The sugar beat harvester on Whitehall this morning (Alex Croft/The Independent)
‘We must stand up to government’s inheritance tax plans’, Labour MP says
10:39
A third Labour MP has broke ranks with the party to oppose the government’s plans for inheritance tax.
Henry Tufnell, MP for South and Mid-Pembrokeshire, warned it was not only wealthy landowners who would be affected by the decision to levy inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1m.
“It’s affecting the fabric of the society within those rural communities and that’s why we were elected,” Mr Tufnell told Sky News.
Protesting farmers turn up in huge combine harvesters
09:57 , Alexander Butler
Protesting farmers have turned up to London in gigantic combine harvesters.
A huge Grimme sugar beat harvester towered over two smaller vehicles outside Whitehall this morning.
A self-propelled Claas Jaguar 970 forage harvester was parked next to it, alongside a Claas combine harvester.
The Met Police has banned all “mechanically propelled vehicles” from London following protests last month that saw hundreds of tractors descend on the city.
Some vehicles have been allowed into London with prior permission from the police.
‘We don’t need any tractors,’ say organisers in face of arrest threat
09:40 , Alexander Butler
Farmer Olly Harrison, one of the organisers, said: “We don’t need any tractors, this is on foot.
“We are going to have some kit to show to the MPs to explain the levels of investment.
“We’ve sorted all that out, you just get yourself there on foot,” he told those taking part.
“Let’s explain the levels of investment needed in agriculture just to produce something simple like a pancake.”
Commitment to farmers ‘steadfast’ government says
09:27 , Alexander Butler
A Government spokesperson said: “Our commitment to farmers remains steadfast.
“This Government are investing £5 billion into farming, the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history.
“We 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.”
What is the ‘tractor tax’?
09:20 , Alexander Butler
Labour is pressing ahead with a 20 per cent inheritance tax rate on agricultural land and businesses worth more than £1 million.
The move essentially scraps an exemption that meant no tax was paid to pass down family farms.
The plans are due to come into force from April 2026.
Farmers and their tractors protest in Whitehall, London last month (Gareth Fuller/PA) (PA Wire)
Police statement on farmer’s protests today
08:39 , Alexander Butler
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ben Russell, who is commanding the policing operation, said: “Two previous protests have taken place in the same area, with the same organisers, in recent months.
“The second protest saw a significant number of people attend with tractors and other large farming vehicles. Whitehall was blocked for much of the day and there were lengthy significant delays on surrounding roads.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that protests don’t cause serious disruption to the life of the community and we’ve used our powers under the Public Order Act to ensure that does not happen on Tuesday.
“We have been in regular contact with the organisers to explain our decision making and I’m grateful for the positive and collaborative approach they have taken.”
Why are Britain’s farmers protesting?
08:37 , Alexander Butler
Why are Britain’s farmers protesting?
‘We don’t need any tractors,’ say organisers in face of arrest threat
07:59 , Tara Cobham
Farmer Olly Harrison, one of the organisers, said: “We don’t need any tractors, this is on foot.
“We are going to have some kit to show to the MPs to explain the levels of investment.
“We’ve sorted all that out, you just get yourself there on foot,” he told those taking part.
“Let’s explain the levels of investment needed in agriculture just to produce something simple like a pancake.”
Farmers could be arrested if they drive tractors at rally, police warn
07:51 , Tara Cobham
Farmers could be arrested if they drive their tractors at a march in central London, police have said.
Conditions have been imposed under the Public Order Act preventing demonstrators from bringing tractors, other than a limited number already agreed by the organisers to demonstrate the costs of such specialist equipment, the Metropolitan Police said.
Deputy assistant commissioner Ben Russell, who is leading the policing operation, said last month’s protest saw a “significant number of people attend with tractors and other large farming vehicles”.
He said there were lengthy road delays, adding: “It is our responsibility to ensure that protests don’t cause serious disruption to the life of the community.”
Scotland Yard warned that it is a criminal offence to breach the conditions or to incite others to do so, and that anyone doing so may face arrest.
Farmers and their tractors descended on Parliament Square in further protests against new tax rules last month (PA Wire)
What are the farmers’ and government’s arguments
07:45
Farmers say that it will force land sales, stall investment, and hurt families lacking succession plans.
But the government has stood firm, calling the move a “fair and balanced approach”.
Government stands firm in face of strong opposition to the move
07:41 , Tara Cobham
The government has stood firm in the face of strong opposition to the move, insisting its approach is “fair and balanced”.
A government spokesperson said: “Our commitment to farmers remains steadfast.
“This Government are investing £5 billion into farming, the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history.
“We 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.”
The government has stood firm in the face of strong opposition to the move (PA Wire)
Lib Dems and Tories have urged Labour to scrap the changes
07:39 , Tara Cobham
The Lib Dems and the Conservatives urged Labour to scrap the changes.
Shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins called the move “vindictive”.
“Once again, rural communities will gather in Westminster to show their united opposition to Labour’s vindictive family farms tax.
“Our rural communities have warned repeatedly that Labour’s tax hike is stopping investment, inflicting an enormous emotional toll on farming families and will break family farms,” she said.
She also argued that introducing this tax puts domestic food production and security at risk.
Tim Farron, the Lib Dem environment spokesman, said: “British farmers are the best in the world. We need them now more than ever to restore nature, provide food security, tackle climate change and support the rural economy.
“The Government must reverse this disastrous family farm tax and instead provide farmers with the support and funding they need to do what is best for the country and for future generations.”
Shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins called the move ‘vindictive’ (Lucy North/PA Wire)
What is the ‘tractor tax’
07:37 , Tara Cobham
Labour is pressing ahead with a 20 per cent inheritance tax rate on agricultural land and businesses worth more than £1 million.
The move essentially scraps an exemption that meant no tax was paid to pass down family farms.
The plans are due to come into force from April 2026.
Tractors have featured heavily at previous farmers’ protests in London – but on Tuesday, police have banned farmers bringing the vehicles (PA Wire)
Farmers to gather in London for pancake day protest against inheritance tax
07:34 , Tara Cobham
Farmers will return to central London to protest inheritance tax changes with a “Pancake Day rally” on Tuesday.
Attendees will march from Whitehall at around midday towards Parliament, with the demonstration due to end at 3pm.
The protest will be largely on foot as police are allowing only a limited number of tractors after last month’s demonstration caused traffic delays.
Farmers who bring tractors in breach of the conditions could face arrest.
Farmer Olly Harrison, one of the organisers, has said the protesters will aim to explain to MPs “the levels of investment needed in agriculture just to produce something simple like a pancake”.
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