A farmer has warned that Britain could face food shortages before Christmas if the government fails to address mounting concerns over inheritance tax changes.
Matt Cullen, who is helping organise next week's planned farmer protest in London, told GB News that potential shortages depend on "how much the government wants to play this game."
His warning comes as thousands of farmers prepare for their second major demonstration in the capital, following November's protest which saw 20,000 agricultural workers descend on central London.
Cullen told GB News: "There could be shortages potentially before Christmas.
"I can't comment too much on that. It depends how much the government wants to play this game.
"I mean, if they want to come round the table and talk to all the relevant people, we can sort it out very quickly.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- Labour-run council to raise parking charges by 60% for first time in a decade
- Major UK bridge to undergo renovations for first time in 50 years with drivers warned of delays
- Shocking drop in productivity revealed by ONS as net migration figures surge
"If they want to keep digging their heels in, I think farmers will take further action and it will cause food shortages.
"We've had it tough. This is not just the tax, we've had it supermarkets and the buyers hit us for quite a long time. These are all things that are adding up.
"This was the final nail in the coffin in the agricultural sector. And it's time now that we've all stand up and we're all fighting back and the government are going to listen."
The next major protest is scheduled for December 11, with farmers planning to gather at multiple mustering points around London from 11am.
Liz Webster, founder of Save British Farming, told GB News: "We will be descending on Whitehall."
The demonstration will include speeches followed by a tractor convoy through the capital.
"It's not the same route as we did last time, but a longer route. And we're going to have more tractors," Webster said.
She warned: "You can expect chaos on that day."
The protest has significant public backing, with an Ipsos poll showing 55 per cent of Britons would support a farmers' strike.
The protests stem from Labour's planned changes to inheritance tax rules for agricultural assets.
From April 2026, inherited farming assets worth more than £1million will face a 20 per centt tax rate, removing previous exemptions.
The Country Land and Business Association estimates over 70,000 farms could be affected, though the Treasury claims it might impact as few as 100 farms.
from GB News https://ift.tt/QZN8Agc
0 Comments