Farmers planning a huge Budget day demonstration against the family farm tax on Wednesday have been banned from bringing their tractors – prompting fury and accusations of two-tier policing.
At the 11th hour, the Metropolitan Police announced the protest against the ending of inheritance relief will be restricted to a small, designated area of Whitehall.
The gathering was intended by organisers to have been ‘one of the most striking rural demonstrations in years’ with hundreds of tractors taking part.
Police made the restriction on the grounds the tractor protest could ‘result in serious disruption to the life of the community’.
The move against the demonstration – being organised by Berkshire Farmers but involving farmers from every corner of the country – was met with fury and accusations of ‘two-tier policing’.
One farmer said: ‘The event had permission and all previous events have been peaceful, tidy and with no arrests’.
He asked: ‘Is this two-tier policing to avoid embarrassment to (Rachel) Reeves on budget day?’
Yorkshire farmer Jonathan Charlesworth, whose father John took his own life so he could pass on the farm before Ms Reeves’ hated new policy comes in next April, said: ‘All previous farmer protests have been peaceful and well organised; it is an awareness event to raise legitimate concerns farmers in the UK have about the dismal outlook for farming businesses in the UK.
Tractors line Whitehall during a previous farmers’ protest against inheritance tax raid
‘I don’t believe any of the reasons given to cancel the tractor convoy have a basis, considering much more divisive marches have taken place including pro-Palestinian marches and the Tommy Robinson march combined with the Stand up to Racism March on the same day.
‘It screams two-tier policing, to protect the government from further adverse publicity on another budget day that is likely to bring more hardship to working families from all walks of life not just farmers.’
Mr Charlesworth Sr, 78, was found hanged the day before budget day last October 29 having read rumours about the planned tax raid.
Tory MP Sir John Hayes, chairman of the backbench Common Sense group, said: ‘It shouldn’t be beyond the wit of the Metropolitan Police to allow activities of this kind.
‘It seems bizarre that they allow so many demonstrations to go ahead by the most bizarre, extreme groups yet we can’t allow the farmers who feed the nation.’
Clive Bailye, of The Farming Forum, who organised the first tractor protest against the inheritance tax raid last November, said: ‘It does feel like two-tier policing. The feedback from the Met about our protest was that we were a pleasure to work with.
‘The organisers of this protest were assured it could go ahead then were told at 2.30pm today (Tuesday) that it couldn’t.’
Victoria Atkins MP, Shadow Environment Secretary, said: ‘Farmers deserve answers. The police have changed their minds with less than 24hrs to go, having worked with farmers over the last 12 days to ensure a safe and effective protest over the vindictive Family Farm and Business Taxes.
‘What has changed? It doesn’t smell right, particularly when we think of the regular and frequent protests that are allowed in SW1 which inconvenience motorists, residents and businesses without consideration. Is this to save the Chancellor embarrassment ahead of her Budget of Broken Promises?’
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: ‘We have had a number of conversations with the protest organisers to safely manage the event.
‘While people will still be able to demonstrate, conditions have been put in place to prevent protesters from bringing vehicles, including tractors or other agricultural vehicles to the protest.
‘This decision was taken due to the serious disruption they may cause to the local area, including businesses, emergency services and Londoners going about their day.’
