Labour peer warns: Party lost touch with farming community before massive protest
A Labour peer points out partys disconnect from rural areas as thousands of farmers plan Parliament protest. Tax changes on agricultural land worth over £1m spark strong opposition from farming community
Baroness Mallalieu is speaking-up against her own partyʼs understanding of rural issues‚ as farmers prepare for tomorrows massive protest (which includes well-known faces like Jeremy Clarkson and Kaleb Cooper)
Im afraid a large part of our party has become urban and the majority of the Cabinet; I suspect a lot of these people may have a cottage
The tax-policy change announced in oct-2024 puts a 20% levy on farm-land over £1m: causing wide-spread worry among family-farm owners. Steve Reed the Environment Secretary (who represents a city constituency) had earlier made pre-election promises that such changes werent even in consideration
- Empty store shelves could happen this winter
- Some farmers might start protests at ports
- Around 20k farmers expected at Parliament
- Tax affects land worth over £1m
Sir Keir Starmer wont be present at the protest due to G20 commitments; however he defends the policy saying most farms wont be affected because of various tax exemptions that add-up to £3m. The situation mirrors Labours past rural-support decline when the party went from having 100+ countryside MPs to just 17
Rally organizer Clive Bailye notes that some farmers feel theyʼve got nothing to lose — despite the NFUs advice against strikes. The policy might affect at least 7 Labour MPs seats due to farmer-led opposition in their constituencies
