'Heavy traffic' expected as farmers to drive tractors through local streets in inheritance tax protest

By James Smith 24th Jan 2025

Tractors will leave from Warwick Racecourse on Saturday morning and make their way through Warwick and to Leamington (image by Paul Bryan)
Tractors will leave from Warwick Racecourse on Saturday morning and make their way through Warwick and to Leamington (image by Paul Bryan)

Motorists are being warned of possible disruption in Warwick and Leamington on Saturday (January 25) as local farmers plan to protest changes to inheritance tax.

As part of a nationwide set of demonstrations, local farmers will drive their tractors through the local streets to raise awareness of what the National Farmers Union (NFU) has described as an "awful policy".

Some 50 tractors are expected to make their way through the centre of Warwick and Leamington.

The Labour government recently announced changes to inheritance tax which will see farms worth more than £1 million liable to pay 20 per cent inheritance tax from April 2026.

The announcement has been met with widespread resistance within the agriculture industry, with many demonstrations having already taken place.

Saturday will see further peaceful protests across the country during the 'Farming Day of Unity'.

In Warwick district, tractors will set off from Warwick Racecourse at 12pm in two-minute intervals heading for the town centre.

After travelling up the high street, onto the Emscote Road then Rugby Road, they will proceed to the roundabout turning onto the A452, then left onto Clarendon Avenue, before turning right heading down the Parade.

From the end of the Parade, the tractors will disperse heading back to their respective farms.

Farmers will be speaking to shoppers over the family farm tax and its impact on businesses throughout the day.

The NFU says the procession has been organised in liaison with the police so as "to not cause issues".

But Warwick District Council has issued a warning to locals saying: "Advance notice that traffic may be heavy in Warwick and Leamington during a Farmers Day of Unity procession this Saturday 25 January, from 12pm until 2pm."

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said ahead of the event: "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 the British public for their ongoing support on this issue.

"The 25 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."

(Header image by Paul Bryan via Geograph.org.uk)

     

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