Tractor convoys visit supermarkets in tax protest

A convoy of tractors is travelling to supermarkets across the South East to protest against the government's changes to inheritance tax on farms.

Campaigners have called on farmers to peacefully protest at supermarkets on Friday and talk to the public about how food production will be impacted by the changes.

In Sussex, tractors will stop at seven supermarkets between Horsham and Brighton along the A24 to speak to the public, while others gathered at Tesco in Broadstairs, Kent.

A £1m cap to agricultural property relief will come into force from April 2026 after being announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the Autumn budget.

Farmer Ollie Field, from Pulborough, said: "A lot of farmers out there, if faced with this bill, would have to sell a some land in order to pay it."

Nellie Budd, from Brockham, Surrey, who was part of the Sussex convoy, added: "It would just make our farm unviable."

Claire Park, a vegetable and cereal farmer who works on a family farm in Margate, said the tax change could impact Britain's food supply.

"If we're not providing your food, we are solely reliant on other countries for our most important resource - our food," she said.

"We literally can't live without it."

Currently, working farms are exempt from inheritance tax but from April 2025 they will be liable to pay 20% on properties and land valued at over £1m.

Ms Budd added: "It's a worry for a lot of older farmers and it's leaving people in a really unsustainable situation."

A 14-tractor convoy started at Tesco at Broadbridge Heath in Horsham on Friday morning and plans to stop at Lyons Farm Retail Park in Worthing, Tesco and M&S at Holmbush Centre, Sainsbury's at Portslade, Tesco in Hove and Asda Hollingbury in Brighton.

The farmers say they plan to deliver a letter to each supermarket and chat to shoppers about how they feel the change will impact food supply.

Mr Field said: "We just don't want to upset the public - we need their support and the understanding of where their food comes from."

Meanwhile seven tractors amassed at Westwood Cross in Broadstairs.

The government told BBC Radio Sussex that the inheritance tax on farms is reduced from the full rate of 40%.

A spokesperson said the payments could be made over the course of 10 years and would be interest-free.

They said: "This is a fair and balanced approach which fixes the public services we all rely on, affecting around 500 estates a year."

The government says it is investing £5bn in farming over two years.

Andrew Opie, Director of Food & Sustainability of the British Retail Consortium, said: "Retailers are closely monitoring the impact of interventions, including strikes, but are adept at dealing with disruption and are working hard to ensure customers aren't impacted."

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