Most farmers will not be affected by Budget’s inheritance tax raid, insists Sir Keir Starmer

FARMERS are entitled to protest but most won’t be hit by the inheritance tax raid, Sir Keir Starmer has insisted.

The PM yesterday played down fury over the so-called “tractor tax” as thousands of angry farmers prepare to storm London on Tuesday.

The tax change will slap a 20 per cent levy on family farms worth over £1 million starting April 2026.

But Sir Keir said he is confident the £3 million tax-free threshold means the “vast majority” of farms won’t be affected.

He also urged ministers to explain the policy better, telling reporters: “It’s important for us to keep communicating how that works.”

Pressed on whether cops should crack down on protesting farmers like Just Stop Oil, he said: “They are entitled to express their views. I do understand their concerns…

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“As to how the protest takes shape and what the response is, that will be a matter for them and the police for how they respond to it.”

A senior minister also revealed plans are being put in place to deal with food shortages if farmers go ahead with their threat to strike over the controversial family farm tax.

Trying to allay shelf shortage fears, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh told Sky News: “The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will be setting out plans for the winter and setting out – as business as usual – contingency plans and ensuring that food security is treated as the priority it deserves to be.”