Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been issued a stark warning by Reform UK's former spokesman as farmers put on their latest united front against the Government.
Descending on Westminster for the third time, agricultural workers drove their tractors through the streets of London in protest against the inheritance tax raid on farmers.
Speaking to GB News, former Reform spokesman Gawain Towler noted that while earlier protests focused primarily on farming-specific concerns, recent events have shown tractors displaying messages about a wider range of social and economic issues.
Towler explained: "I think one of the things I thought was very interesting, the last two events, it was all about inheritance tax.
"No farmers, no food, all the banners, all the posters, all the tractors, same style with 'farmer harmer' and things of this sort.
"This time I noticed stuff on the tractors talking about winter fuel allowance, I noticed stuff talking about net zero, and what you're starting to see is the farmers are uniting with other people who are having a horrid, torrid time from this Government."
In a direct warning to the Labour Government, Towler claimed: "If I was Starmer, if I was Reeves, I could ignore the farmers, there's only a few of you.
"However, if that starts to grow into a unified group of people, all of whom feel that they've been crushed by this Government, then if I were Starmer, I'd be very worried."
Towler also expressed strong views on inheritance tax in defence of the farmers, describing it as "immoral" and "wrong" for both farmers and the general public.
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"People pay tax once, and it's taxing again," he explained, highlighting concerns about double taxation.
He pointed to the multiple layers of taxation affecting citizens, noting that people are "paying higher taxes on their income already" before facing additional charges when investing in property.
The former Reform UK spokesman emphasised how this tax burden compounds with other levies, stating: "You've got capital gains tax, you've got a whole series of taxes."
However, he warned that the situation changes significantly if farmers successfully unite with other discontented groups.
"If that starts to grow into a unified group of people, all of whom feel that they've been crushed by this Government, then if I were Starmer, I'd be very worried," Towler cautioned.
The Government has defended the reforms, stating its commitment to farmers remains "steadfast" but citing an "urgent need to repair the public finances in as fair a way as possible".
The National Farmers Union has expressed support for members participating in the protest. NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: "The strength of feeling around the proposed family farm tax is still incredibly high.
"We support any members who want to take part in other respectful and lawful demonstrations which work towards our aim to stop the family farm tax."
Find Out More...
Descending on Westminster for the third time, agricultural workers drove their tractors through the streets of London in protest against the inheritance tax raid on farmers.
Speaking to GB News, former Reform spokesman Gawain Towler noted that while earlier protests focused primarily on farming-specific concerns, recent events have shown tractors displaying messages about a wider range of social and economic issues.
Towler explained: "I think one of the things I thought was very interesting, the last two events, it was all about inheritance tax.
"No farmers, no food, all the banners, all the posters, all the tractors, same style with 'farmer harmer' and things of this sort.
"This time I noticed stuff on the tractors talking about winter fuel allowance, I noticed stuff talking about net zero, and what you're starting to see is the farmers are uniting with other people who are having a horrid, torrid time from this Government."
In a direct warning to the Labour Government, Towler claimed: "If I was Starmer, if I was Reeves, I could ignore the farmers, there's only a few of you.
"However, if that starts to grow into a unified group of people, all of whom feel that they've been crushed by this Government, then if I were Starmer, I'd be very worried."
Towler also expressed strong views on inheritance tax in defence of the farmers, describing it as "immoral" and "wrong" for both farmers and the general public.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
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- Farmer offers to ‘teach’ Rachel Reeves as pressure heaps on Chancellor over inheritance tax
- ‘Farming WILL die out’: Farmer begs ‘cut us some slack’ in desperate plea to Starmer and Reeves
"People pay tax once, and it's taxing again," he explained, highlighting concerns about double taxation.
He pointed to the multiple layers of taxation affecting citizens, noting that people are "paying higher taxes on their income already" before facing additional charges when investing in property.
The former Reform UK spokesman emphasised how this tax burden compounds with other levies, stating: "You've got capital gains tax, you've got a whole series of taxes."
However, he warned that the situation changes significantly if farmers successfully unite with other discontented groups.
"If that starts to grow into a unified group of people, all of whom feel that they've been crushed by this Government, then if I were Starmer, I'd be very worried," Towler cautioned.
The Government has defended the reforms, stating its commitment to farmers remains "steadfast" but citing an "urgent need to repair the public finances in as fair a way as possible".
The National Farmers Union has expressed support for members participating in the protest. NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: "The strength of feeling around the proposed family farm tax is still incredibly high.
"We support any members who want to take part in other respectful and lawful demonstrations which work towards our aim to stop the family farm tax."
Find Out More...