Farmer Rally in London 19th November 2024

Over 10,000 farmers attended an independent rally in London on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, to voice their concerns over recent government policies, particularly changes announced in the autumn budget.

Parallel to this, the National Farmers' Union (NFU), saw 1,800 farmers convene at Church House in Westminster for a "mass lobbying event."

Both groups shared a common goal: to highlight the challenges faced by British agriculture.

Central to the protests were proposed reforms to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR), which could impose significant tax burdens on family farms.

The NFU criticized these changes, arguing that they could force families to break up their farms, severely impacting the viability of the farming sector. Farmers also expressed frustration over rising costs, including the accelerated reduction of direct payments and stagnant agricultural budgets amidst record inflation and extreme weather events.

The independent rally, described as peaceful but impactful, aimed to emphasize the value of farming to the public. Organizers encouraged attendees to contribute to food banks to build trust and solidarity with consumers, many of whom are still grappling with the cost-of-living crisis.