Prime Minister Keir Starmer has just given an interview with broadcasters, saying he understands the concerns of farmers and "wants to support" them - but also stressing that the "vast majority of farms, would be unaffected" by the changes to inheritance tax.

Starmer then makes the case that the Labour government used the Budget to invest in other areas which affect rural communities, such as hospitals, schools and housing.

He adds that the government pledged £5bn over two years for "farming and food sustainability".

"That's hugely important for farmers, an additional amount for flooding that impacts them and on disease outbreak," the PM says.

Pressed on whether any changes could be made to the inheritance plans, Starmer replies: "It's very important for me to keep making the case that it's only farms and assets over £3m in a typical case of parents wanting to pass on to their children."

Telling broadcasters he is "confident the vast majority of farms will not be affected", Starmer also insists the government "had discussions yesterday with the farmers and will continue to do so because we must support them".

A fourth-generation farmer at the protest has told the PA news agency that he - along with other farmers - may have to strike if Labour's change to inheritance tax isn't reversed.

Richard Wainright, 58, from Halifax, says: "I hope it doesn't come to that because that's seriously going to impact the food chain."

He says his family might have to sell 20% of their farm to cover the tax bill of around £600,000.

David Spours, a tenant farmer from north Northumberland, says "every single farmer" in his area will be affected by the change.

On top of the changes to inheritance tax, Spours says changes to carbon emissions rules will increase the price of crop fertiliser.

He tells PA he will be £60,000 worse off next year, which combined with a rise in the cost of fertiliser means his prospects are "looking pretty grim".

Image source, PA Media

We’re hearing from a lot of farmers today on why they are upset about the inheritance tax change, but what has the government had to say?

Justifying the move, Environment Secretary Steve Reed says: “It’s only right to ask the very wealthiest farmers and those wealthy individuals who have been buying up agricultural land to avoid their own inheritance tax liability, to pay their fair share.”

Speaking to the BBC, he blames the reason for the change as a “£22bn black hole” left by the previous government.

Reed goes on to stress that the government’s commitment to farming is “absolute” and cites £5bn funding for the sector that was set out in the Budget.

He says that the “vast majority of farmers will pay no more” under the new scheme. He adds that data suggests approximately 500 will pay the new charges.

Image source, Reuters

The leader of Reform, Nigel Farage, has spoken in support of farmers in the past few days.

Last week he warned on GB News: "Don't underestimate the fury of farmers" and later posted on social media: "No farmers, no food".

Environment Secretary Steve Reed says the government "had to ask those with the broadest shoulders to pay a little bit more". The vast majority of farmers would "pay nothing" even after the changes, Reed says.

Analysis by the National Farmers Union suggests 75% of commercial farms over 50 hectares would be affected by the changes, its president Tom Bradshaw says.

The Metropolitan Police says it estimates around 10,000 are attending today's farming rally in Whitehall, with "more arriving" as the day goes on.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) president has told protesters in London that the inheritance tax changes for farmers are a "stab in the back".

Speaking before today's rally kicked off, Tom Bradshaw said: "We know the horrendous pressure it is putting on the older generation of farmers who have given everything to providing food for this country.

"We know that any tax revenue will be taken from our children and raised from those that die in tragic circumstances, all within the next seven years."

He added that "the human impact of this policy is simply not acceptable, it's wrong" and warned the policy was "kicking the legs out from under British food security".

Why has this row become so noisy so quickly?published at 12:02 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November

12:02 GMT 19 November

Chris Mason
Political editor

From the conversations I have had, I think there are three main reasons.

Firstly, inheritance tax, perhaps like no other tax, has an outsized emotive tug on so, so many people - in fact a far greater number of people than are ever likely to end up paying it.

The House of Commons Library, citing opinion polling, has described it as “the most unpopular tax in the UK”, even though just 3.7% of deaths led to an inheritance tax bill in 2020-21.

Some argue it is unfair as it represents double taxation; being taxed on money that has already been taxed.

For others, their opposition is much more deeply seated, a sense that it seeks to dilute the most human of all human emotions, to provide for your children when you are gone.

Secondly, throw into the mix a political rule first invented by the Economist magazine: “Never pick a fight with a profession that appears in a children’s book.”

Trades that are universally understood, at least in broad brush terms, and provide for our most essential needs can be very effective lobby groups, the argument goes.

Think doctors and nurses, but also farmers and food.

Thirdly, I am told it is worth seeing this row about inheritance tax in a wider context.

“It is the straw that has broken the camel’s back,” is how one farming source put it to me.

There was the new trade deal with Australia, which many farmers think undermines them.

There are the adjustments to farm subsidies being made after Brexit.

And there has been the seemingly never-ending chopping and changing of farming ministers as various prime ministers have come and gone. There have been five farming ministers in the last five years.

Put them all together and there is a disillusion and a widespread sense among farmers of not being listened to.

Westminster is certain to hear them this week.

Image source, Reuters

One of the figureheads of today’s protest is Top Gear presenter-turned on-screen farmer Jeremy Clarkson.

Speaking to the BBC in London, he suggests that the tax might be devastating for his new profession.

“It’s the end,” he warns. “If you actually stop and pay attention, it’s the end.”

“I talked to a man the other day, he has 600 cows so not massive, the cows alone are worth £1.2million,” he continues, signalling that the impact of the tax might be widespread in the community.

Fans of Clarkson’s show will recall numerous scenes of the TV star falling over in muddy conditions and looking flabbergasted at soaring bills in the mail, and he’s asked at the protest whether he regrets the decision to try his hand at farming.

“I don’t regret it because I’m a journalist at heart and it’s a good story,” he says.

How many farms will be affected?published at 11:44 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November

11:44 GMT 19 November

By Tamara Kovacevic, Anthony Reuben and Gerry Georgieva

There has been an outcry from many farmers following the changes to inheritance tax for farms announced in the Budget.

From April 2026, inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m, which were previously exempt, will have to pay inheritance tax at 20% - half the usual rate.

We've seen a range of claims about how many farms will be affected.

The largest estimate - 70,000 - relates to the total number that could ever be affected. But the number of farms likely to be impacted each year is likely to be around 500.

How many farms will be affected? How much could be raised? And is the tax affordable? BBC Verify breaks down the key questions

As promised, here's a quick look at the changes to inheritance tax (IHT) announced in the Budget.

Since it was introduced in 1984, agricultural property relief (APR) has allowed small family farms – including land used for crops or rearing animals, as well as farm buildings, cottages and houses - to be exempt from IHT.

But, from April 2026, that exemption will no stand for inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m.

Instead, they will be liable to the tax at 20%, half the usual rate. But they will have 10 years to pay the balance owed in tax, which is longer than others do.

There has been lots of disagreement about precisely how many people might be affected.

Our colleagues at BBC Verify have been crunching the numbers - we'll bring you their verdict in our next post.

Adam Durbin
Live editor

Farmers from across the country have headed to Westminster to protest the government's proposed changes to inheritance tax.

We'll take you through exactly what those changes are shortly - but, for now, what you need to know is there has been a major row over exactly how many people it will affect.

Since this was announced in the Budget earlier this month, the government has insisted that the "vast majority" of farmers will not be affected.

But many are angry, and the National Farmers' Union (NFU) has called the move "disastrous" for family farms.

We'll bring you all the latest updates from the march, analysis of the various claims around the changes and key statements from politicians, thanks for joining us.