Sir Keir Starmer had to cancel his planned visit to Buckinghamshire because of a loud and disruptive protest involving tractors. The protest was organized by farmers who were angry about the government’s decision to impose inheritance tax on their estates after they pass away. Sir Keir, the Prime Minister, was supposed to visit a housing development near Milton Keynes to talk about his government’s plan to build 100 new towns. This plan is part of an effort to address the housing crisis in the country. However, when he arrived, he was met by dozens of farmers and their tractors, who were there to make their voices heard.
The protest was led by a group called Farmers to Action. Videos shared by the group showed tractors lining the streets as Sir Keir arrived at the housing development. The farmers were demanding that Rachel Reeves, a key government official, abolish inheritance tax for farmers. The situation became so intense that Sir Keir decided to abandon his visit and cancel scheduled media interviews. This incident follows another recent protest in Whitehall, where hundreds of tractors blocked the streets near Westminster, calling for the government to reverse its decision on inheritance tax.
The controversy deepened when Daniel Zeichner, a senior farming minister, made comments suggesting that farming is not a top priority for the government. These remarks caused outrage among farmers and led to criticism of Sir Keir during Prime Minister’s Questions in Parliament. Tory MP Harriet Cross questioned Sir Keir about the minister’s comments, asking if it was true that farming was not high on the government’s agenda. Sir Keir responded by saying that farming is indeed a top priority for him and his government. He mentioned that the government had allocated £5 million to support farmers in the recent budget and criticized the previous government for failing to spend £300 million on farming initiatives. He also pointed out that the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) had welcomed the government’s roadmap for agriculture.
Despite his attempts to reassure the public, Sir Keir’s response was met with laughter from the Opposition benches, indicating that many were skeptical of his claims. The situation highlights the growing tension between the government and the farming community, as well as the challenges of addressing the housing crisis while also supporting agricultural interests. The protest and the fallout from the minister’s comments have put additional pressure on Sir Keir and his government to find a balance between these competing priorities.
