Twelve months on from the announcement of a 20% levy on assets worth in excess of £1m, industry stakeholders, farmers and politicians, including back-bench rural MPs from within the Labour party, gathered outside Westminster on Wednesday to protest at the government’s ‘death tax’ plans which are due to be introduced in April 2026.

Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the protestors, including farmer and You Tube sensation Olly ‘Blogs’ Harrison, was DUP Agriculture spokesperson, Carla Lockhart MP.  She said: “The government’s pending tax reforms have been weighing on the minds of farming families for a year now. Despite strong opposition, the Prime Minister and the Chancellor remain defiant and continue to turn their backs on thousands of farmers who feed the nation on a daily basis. Their arrogance and belligerence is totally unacceptable!

“We haven’t gone away, and our message remains the same – STOP the Family Farm Tax. This fight is far from over!

“It is very obvious the current government has no understanding of farming. The inheritance tax changes are a reckless attack on the UK’s agri-food sector and nothing short of economic sabotage.

“The Prime Minister’s pre-election manifesto promised to look after working people, but the Labour government was just 118 days in office when it delivered a hammer blow that will destroy vital home-grown businesses, create economic turmoil and threaten national food security.”

Ms Lockhart added: “Since last year’s budget, Rachel Reeves has blatantly ignored endless calls for round-table talks with politicians and farming unions. She has no empathy for farming families, many of whom are managing land that has been handed down through multiple generations.

“The Chancellor and her DEFRA colleagues stick to the narrative of fixing an inherited £22 billion fiscal black hole. It is becoming more and more apparent that Rachel Reeves is completely out of her depth, and many of her party’s bad decisions are driving businesses out of the UK, damaging the economy and contributing to an even deeper black hole.

“The ill-thought-out farm tax heist will impact an estimated 75% of working farms. Thousands of small and medium-sized farm businesses will be unviable, thanks to huge tax obligations following the death of a loved one. Mental health issues are reaching unprecedented levels, and elderly farmers have been left feeling they are a financial burden on the next generation.”

The Upper Bann MP added: “We are just days away from the autumn budget and there is strong speculation that Rachel Reeves will introduce additional tax hikes in a bid to rescue the ever-deepening fiscal black hole.

“I understand the Treasury faces difficult decisions, but biting the hand that feeds us is definitely not the answer. Agriculture is key player in the UK economy and a major employer.

“Now is the opportune time for the government to listen to the electorate. The Chancellor must re-think her policy plans. Our concerns are very real. The government needs to STOP now, or press the pause button rather than careering down a path that will have damaging and tragic consequences for the UK’s farming industry.