Farmers across the UK staged coordinated go-slow demonstrations on Monday, driving tractors and machinery along major roads to protest the government’s proposed family farm tax.
The slow-moving convoys brought disruption to key routes as farmers sought to draw public attention to what they describe as mounting pressure on Britain’s agricultural sector.
The action comes two days before Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to outline a 20 percent tax on agricultural land and farm businesses valued above £1 million. The proposed levy, part of Wednesday’s Budget announcement, has triggered alarm among farmers who fear the measure will disproportionately impact family-run operations.
On the A160 in North Lincolnshire, long queues formed as dozens of tractors moved in convoy, flying banners and signs criticising the planned policy. Footage from the scene showed vehicles travelling at minimal speed, with farmers waving to motorists who slowed to observe the protest.
Similar demonstrations unfolded in rural communities across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, forming what organisers described as a “Day of Unity” for the industry.
The nationwide display, they said, was intended to show the scale of discontent within the farming community.
Many farmers argue that the new tax could destabilise an already fragile rural economy and accelerate the decline of family farms. They point to increasing fuel costs, supply chain challenges, labour shortages, and volatile market prices as pressures that have left little room for additional financial burdens.
A spokesperson for Farmers To Action, one of the groups coordinating the protests, said the demonstration was not intended to cause chaos but to highlight what is at stake.
“We all hope that taking part in the Day of Unity will further bring the farming community together,” the spokesperson said. “Our concern is that these Budget proposals could make it harder for families to keep their farms going.”
Several farmers who joined the protest said the tax plan feels disconnected from the realities of agricultural life. They argue that valuations of farmland and farm assets often do not reflect actual cash income, meaning the tax could hit farmers who are land-rich but income-poor.
Critics of the proposed tax warn that it may force some families to sell part of their land, consolidate operations, or shut down entirely. They also caution that a reduction in domestic food production could increase the UK’s reliance on imports at a time of global market uncertainty.
Government officials have defended the proposed measure, saying it targets wealth tied to large agricultural holdings rather than small-scale farm households. However, farming groups dispute this, noting that rising land values mean many modest family farms could fall within the tax threshold.
As Wednesday’s Budget approaches, pressure is mounting on the government to reconsider or revise the proposal. Opposition parties have echoed concerns from the farming sector, urging the Treasury to conduct further assessment before implementing any new tax.
Monday’s demonstrations mark one of the most visible shows of agricultural dissent in recent years, highlighting growing frustration over policy decisions affecting rural livelihoods. For many farmers, the go-slow protest was not only a statement to the government but a plea for broader public understanding.
As tractors eventually cleared the A160 and other roads across the country, protest organisers said the message to Westminster was clear: Farmers feel overlooked, and they want the government to recognise the vital role they play in food security, rural employment, and the national economy.
