The UK’s agricultural sector is bracing for its first-ever national strike, set to begin on November 17th, as farmers protest a Labour government policy that they say endangers family-owned farms and the country’s food security.
The Welsh activist group “Enough is Enough” is leading the charge, calling for a one-week halt in produce leaving farms to highlight the impact of a controversial inheritance tax hike that affects farms valued at over £1 million, The Times reports.
The inheritance tax change, introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, imposes a 20% levy on qualifying farms, a move intended to raise £520 million annually by 2029. The treasury claims this policy will primarily impact large estates, affecting only a quarter of farms, but the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) argues the number could be far higher, with up to two-thirds of UK farms impacted. Farmers fear that to meet these steep tax bills, many will be forced to sell land or, in some cases, shut down entirely.
According to Business Matters, the strike will primarily affect non-perishable goods, with farmers planning to withhold meat and certain crops from supermarket shelves, though dairy farmers are exempt to prevent spoilage of milk and eggs.
Tim Taylor, a strike organiser, says the intent is to “disrupt but not decimate supermarket shelves,” aiming to generate public support rather than cause undue hardship.
The strike will also see over 10,000 farmers gathering in London on November 19th for a protest rally and a “mass lobbying” event coordinated by the NFU, where nearly 2,000 farmers will meet MPs to voice their concerns.
The action comes amid outrage over the comments of a former Labour Party advisor. John McTernan, a former aide to Tony Blair, referenced the miners’ strikes of the 1980s, saying: “The farmers want to go on the streets—we can do to them what Margaret Thatcher did to the miners… This is an industry we could do without.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer was forced to distance himself from the comments, saying he “totally disagrees” with Ternan.
The current protest reflects a broader discontent within the farming community, who feel beleaguered by government policies. Earlier this year, in February, thousands of Welsh farmers demonstrated in Cardiff against the Welsh Labour Government’s proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), which would force farmers to allocate 20% of their land to trees and wildlife habitat in exchange for subsidies. That protest, attended by thousands of farmers and supported by key Welsh figures, led to a temporary postponement of the SFS rollout until 2026.
However, as Enough is Enough asserts, the UK and Welsh Labour governments’ new policies represent a persistent threat to the sector. Many farmers, asset-rich but cash-poor, may struggle to meet the demands of inheritance tax levies without sacrificing family land, threatening the survival of farming traditions that in some cases span hundreds of years.
Welsh farmer Gareth Wyn Jones, who plans to join the strike, told Business Matters that the tax policy could destroy the 375-year-old farm that has been in his family for generations.
The mental health toll on farmers is also becoming apparent, with support lines reporting increased calls since the tax change announcement. The family of one farmer in South Yorkshire revealed that he took his own life just before the budget announcement to spare his children the financial strain of inheritance taxes.
A spokesperson for the UK Labour government defended the tax changes, citing a £22 billion deficit and claiming the policy is balanced, ensuring most farms can still pass on significant assets tax-free. Yet, as farmers prepare for a week of action, the underlying sentiment is one of betrayal, with agricultural groups warning of further, more drastic protests if the government does not respond to their demands for fairer policies.
As the NFU’s November 19th event and the London protest approach, tensions between British farmers and the Labour government show no signs of abating. Farmers are uniting in what they see as a fight for survival—not only for their businesses but also for the UK’s food security and rural way of life.
