The NFU has confirmed that Farmers from across the UK will stage a National Day of Unity on 25 January as pressure builds on the government to halt the controversial family farm tax that will devastate family farms across the country.
Towns across the whole United Kingdom will see farmers gathering to thank the British public for their overwhelming support, and to underline to parliamentarians that the campaign will not stop until the tax is finally subject to consultation and proper scrutiny. The event is backed by the NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and the Ulster Farmers’ Union and while the day’s events will vary from region to region, the unions are stressing three key messages:
- This tax is badly thought out and will crush family farming in Britain
- The wonderful support of the public means everything to farmers
- This will go on as long as it needs to go on
NFU President Tom Bradshaw commented, “Farmers haven’t taken this destructive policy lying down and we won’t give up. There is too much at risk – our families, our future, our heritage and the undermining of the very sector that produces a safe, secure supply of British food.
“This date will give everyone that wants to an opportunity to support family farms from right across the UK, to show unity and strength, and for farmers and growers to speak as one in our call for government to stop the family farm tax.
“We are so grateful to members of the British public for their ongoing support on this issue. The 25th is not just a day for the farming community to show unity, but anyone who believes Britain’s family farms, and the high quality food they produce, deserve to be better valued and supported.”
Over the festive period, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak also criticised Labour’s plans in an unprecedented intervention. “I’m worried about the impact of that on small farmers,” he told the Independent. “You wouldn’t want the policy to impact on small family farms, because that was never the intention. The onus will be on the government to demonstrate that this doesn’t have the impact that some fear it will have.”
In addition to this event organised by the farming unions, Save British Farming (SBF), Kent Fairness for Farmers and other groups are planning further tractor protests around London on 3 February. A listing on website Eventbrite for the protest says, ‘Farmers from across the country are invited to come together and ensure we are heard and seen. Let’s make a statement with several groups of tractors travelling clockwise and anti-clockwise around central London for a day.’
SBF Founder Liz Webster added, “It’s essential that we continue to escalate lawful demonstrations reminding Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer that farmers are united against what his government is trying to do to our industry and countryside and that we are not going to disappear quietly.”
