Farmers Protest Against Inheritance Tax Reform

A protest by British farmers over proposed inheritance tax changes has led to a dramatic – and symbolic – move: a two-week refusal to load milling wheat, the very grain used to make staples like bread, hot cross buns and burger baps. With Easter approaching, organisers of the protest have warned of empty shelves and rationed loaves, sparking public debate about food security, rural livelihoods and the long-term impact of government tax policy.

The protest, dubbed a “strike” by those involved, began on 1 April and is expected to last for two weeks. Farmers participating in the action are deliberately withholding milling wheat – used in breadmaking – while still allowing feed wheat to be distributed. The move is designed to highlight discontent with Labour’s plans to reform inheritance tax, a long-standing exemption that many in the agricultural sector view as essential to protecting family-run farms.

The government’s proposed reform would see estates worth over £1 million subject to a 20% inheritance tax rate starting next April, ending what critics of the policy call a “decades-long safeguard” for generational farms. Farmers argue that the change threatens to dismantle family businesses, increase financial strain on successors, and disincentivise the next generation from staying in the sector.

Olly Harrison, a farmer from Lancashire and one of the protest’s most vocal organisers, made his case in a pointed social media video: “Farmers who are growing milling wheat have gone on strike. From 1 April, they won’t be loading any trucks… We’re probably going to run out of flour.” His message: food doesn’t just appear on supermarket shelves – it begins in the fields.

Staffordshire farmer Clive Bailye, who helps run the popular Farming Forum website, echoed this sentiment. “It may be April Fool’s Day,” he said, “but Britain’s food security is no joke.” He described the action as the first coordinated farming strike in the UK and warned of a ripple effect across the country if the concerns are not taken seriously.

While farmers insist their aim is to raise awareness among urban MPs and the wider public, industry figures have been quick to downplay fears of shortages. The British Retail Consortium said it does not anticipate any disruption to the supply of bread or wheat products, while UK Flour Millers confirmed that milling wheat continues to arrive at mills nationwide.

According to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), the UK milling industry had over 46,000 tonnes of flour in stock at the end of January, compared with a monthly requirement of around 493,000 tonnes. However, British-sourced wheat fell from 82% to 72% between July and January due to a smaller harvest and rising imports.

Tom Bradshaw, President of the National Farmers’ Union, acknowledged the farmers’ anger but urged caution. “We don’t want to do anything that jeopardises public support,” he said, warning that panic buying could do more harm than the actual disruption. “There will not be a shortage of milling wheat.”

The discontent among farmers is not solely about inheritance tax. The government’s recent decision to halt new applications to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme without warning has further strained relations. Farmers were promised six weeks’ notice before any such closure, but officials were unable to explain the abrupt end to the programme during questioning in Parliament.

Other policies under fire include the proposed fertiliser levy and increases to employer National Insurance contributions—measures seen by many as unsustainable pressures on an already vulnerable sector. Confidence within UK agriculture has hit record lows, with many farmers feeling abandoned and unheard.

Daniel Zeichner, the Farming Minister, sought to reassure the public. “I understand the unhappiness that is out there,” he told MPs, maintaining that supply chains remain resilient. He also confirmed that his office had received no direct communication from protesting farmers.

Not everyone is satisfied with that response. Harriet Cross, Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan, described the strike as a “direct consequence” of Labour’s agricultural policies. She urged the government to act swiftly: “Our farmers are not going to accept this government’s attack on their livelihoods lying down.”

As the Easter season draws near, the real issue may not be whether hot cross buns go missing from bakery shelves but whether Britain can continue to rely on its farmers to feed the nation amid policies that threaten to uproot their future.