Farmers have brought dozens of tractors to Westminster for a protest - watch live by pressing play at the top of the page
They are protesting against low-cost agricultural imports, and what they say is "misleading" food labelling, among other issues
Some also say post-Brexit schemes that replaced EU subsidies focus too much on environmental work
Similar "go slow" tractor convoys took place earlier this year in Canterbury and Dover
Over the last few months, Europe's farmers have ramped up demonstrations across the continent protesting against EU and national measures
Jack Burgess
Live editor
Our live coverage of today's protests by UK farmers is coming to an end now.
But you can continue reading about today's protests in Westminster and elsewhere here.
Thanks for joining us.
Hamzah Abbas
reporting from London
Image source, Jordan Pettitt/PA WireThe tractors have done a few laps of Parliament Square as they approach the end of today’s protest.
Their musical horn honks have been greeted with applause and cheers from the crowd that has gathered here in Westminster.
Some are even dancing; it’s a crowd in full support of the farmers here today.
One woman shouted: “we love our farmers and we love our food”.
Each passing tractor is being greeted with further applause.
Hamzah Abbas
reporting from London
Liz Webster, one of the organisers, addressing all the protesters here says "we are making history today" and offers thanks to the police.
"This is the beginning of something that is building and we are not going to stop until we get what we need," Webster says.
Before adding "I look forward to seeing you at the next one".
Image source, REUTERS/Toby Melville
Image source, Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
Image source, REUTERS/Toby Melville
Lucy Vladev
reporting from Parliament Square
Image source, REUTERS/Toby MelvilleAs the tractors reached Westminster, police had to push back the crowds spreading into the road to show their support, holding banners and cheering.
Some of those making the decisions about the future of farming will still be sitting in their offices in the Houses of Parliament, undoubtedly able to hear the horns and sirens outside.
With decisions around how we grow food while protecting the environment now such a hotly debated issue, especially since Brexit, the message today from this group is loud and clear
Image source, Jordan Pettitt/PA WireTractors line the banks of the River Thames near Parliament
Meghan Owen
reporting from London
Image source, .What do you get when over 100 tractors hit central London rush hour?
Image source, .Lively chaos, and commuters being greeted to anthems such as Baby Shark played on tractor horns.
Image source, .Hamzah Abbas
reporting from London
Farmers with tractors have been summoned to pick up placards to attach to the front of their tractors.
The placards carry the same slogans we’ve seen on tractors already, such as “Stop Substandard Imports".
The farmers have also been asked to honk their horns in unison for the BBC Radio programme, Farming Today.
Malcolm Prior
Rural affairs producer
When angry farmers took to the streets across Europe - blockading roads, spraying police officers with liquid manure and throwing eggs and flares - many wondered if similar protests would come to the UK.
Image source, ReutersTyres were set on fire during protests by farmers outside the European Union HQ in Brussels last month
Protests did materialise last month, with thousands of farmers descending on Cardiff to protest against the Welsh government's new farm subsidy plans.
In England, the protests have been more muted with "go-slow" tractor protests in some areas, including Kent and Cornwall.
But, over the weeks, campaigners have seen their support grow in social media groups – with the “No Farmers, No Food” logo being shared widely.
The NFU, however, has been clear “disruptive protests should always be a last resort”.
Tom Bradshaw, who was confirmed as NFU president last month, has told the BBC: “Ongoing support of the British public is of paramount importance, and we must not take this support or its influence for granted.”
Instead of backing direct action on the streets, the NFU has written to all the main political parties calling on them to make a manifesto commitment to form a “food standards commission”.
Image source, Andrew Matthews/PA WireTractors lined up on roads in Dover last month as farmers protested against foreign imports of food
February already saw a number of farmers’ protests across the UK.
About 200 farmers staged a protest against foreign imports of food and what they have described as low prices being paid by supermarkets for their goods in Canterbury, Kent.
This followed a go-slow demonstration using tractors to blockade the port of Dover in February.
Jeff Gibson, the organiser of a protest, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme at the time that widespread anger felt by UK farmers meant further action could not be ruled out and that it could "very easily escalate".
He said trade deals agreed since Brexit had created an "utterly soul-destroying" situation and said protests by farmers in Europe had "shown us what can be accomplished and hopefully the government start taking notice".
The government has said it's looking at how to improve supply chain fairness.
This year has also seen Welsh farmers holding several demonstrations against the government's agricultural policies, including the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme.
Hamzah Abbas
reporting from London
A group from the Animal Rising campaign group, which is a British animal rights activist movement, have come out to support the farmers while dressed as fruit and vegetables.
They say the reason for the costumes is to draw attention to the issues.
One of them tells me they are here today because they back the demands of the British farmers.
Animal Rising campaign group members out in support of protesting farmers
European farming protests have spread across the continent over the last few months. Agriculture workers have blocked roads from Ireland to eastern Poland and down to Spain.
Grievances vary widely from country to country, but the bottom line is similar everywhere: farmers claim it is getting increasingly harder to make a living.
Image source, FILIP SINGER/EPA-EFETractors queuing during a protest in Berlin, Germany, in December last year
In Germany, farmers are angry with the phasing out of tax breaks on agricultural diesel, which they say would lead them to bankruptcy.
In France, concerns stretch from burgeoning bureaucracy, to the increasing cost of farm diesel, late payment of EU subsidies, or competition from imports.
Image source, ReutersFarmers in France protested in Paris earlier this year and also blocked motorways
Governments have been largely conciliatory. In Belgium, farmers said they wanted “a level playing field for all European farmers" and in Greece they demanded lower electricity prices, tax-free diesel and subsidised animal feed.
While last week, the European Commission proposed a cap on duty-free imports of some Ukrainian produce after farmers in Poland and Hungary complained that the European Union was not doing enough to halt cheap imports from Ukraine undercutting local produce.
Meghan Owen
BBC London
Farmers have gathered at New Covent Garden, with Union Jack flags flying off the back of their tractors. They are carrying signs with slogan such as "Save British farming" and "No farming, no food, no future", whilst blaring their horns.
Ben Stickland, 21, is a farmer from West Sussex.
"I’m a third generation farmer. I’m here for my future. There’s a chance where my future might not involve farming whether I like it or not. Imports, price of wheat, and costs. There are multiple nails being put into this coffin built around us," Stickland told me.
Clive Stickland, Ben’s uncle, said "Farmers are here to look after the English countryside and produce food. Governments are now dictating to us there is no need to produce food, but that’s what we are here to do."
Ben and Clive Stickland have come from West Sussex to take part in the protest
Malcolm Prior
BBC Rural Affairs Producer
Monday’s rally follows actions by farmers across Europe, who are united by an anger at competition from cheaper imports and tighter environmental regulations.
The London “go-slow” of tractors is specifically aimed at raising awareness of three main issues that its organisers claim “threaten public health and destroys our food security”.
Campaign groups Save British Farming and Fairness for Farmers of Kent are calling for an end to imports, which they claim are produced to lower animal welfare and environmental standards, often with chemicals banned in the UK.
At the same time, they say labelling of food in supermarkets is misleading – with foreign produce packed in the UK often carrying a Union Jack logo.
They also want the government to do more to protect and strengthen the UK’s food security, defined as a country’s ability to feed itself.
They point to recent international shocks to the system, such as the Ukraine war, which have had knock-on effects on fuel and energy costs and fertilizer and animal feed prices.
Many of the campaigners also believe post-Brexit farm payment schemes that replaced EU subsidies, are focused too heavily on environmental work and measures to achieve net zero.
Image source, PA Media
Barbara Tasch
Live reporter
Welcome to our coverage of the farmers' protests in London this evening.
Two activist groups have called on farmers to drive their tractors to Westminster for a "go-slow" protest.
The protestors are calling on politicians to stop low-cost agricultural imports and do more to protect the UK's food security.
Stay with us as we bring you the latest photos and news from the demo and remember that you can click on the 'Play' button at the top of the page to follow the protests live.