Labour accused of ‘not listening’ despite THIRD tractor protest by farmers: ‘Our hands are tied!’
A farmer has claimed that the agricultural industry will have to “wait longer than Labour survives in Government” before they see a U-turn on inheritance tax.
Following their third Westminster protest against the proposed changes announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, farmer James Fairlie told GB News that they are “still not being listened to”.
Discussing the latest protest, Fairlie described a “buoyant atmosphere” in Westminster, but noted significant disappointment at the lack of official engagement with the Government.
“Rachel from accounts, she’s just not listening, and I don’t think Labour have grasped the importance of what they’re messing with here,” Fairlie said.
Farmer James Fairlie claims Labour ‘haven’t grasped the importance of what they’re messing with’
PA / GB News
He warned that Government decisions were having serious consequences for the farming sector.
“They think everything would continue as normal, but they could change the goalposts. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen, that is not the case, and every decision has a reaction,” he explained.
The farmer suggested a prolonged standoff might be necessary to achieve their goals. Fairlie admitted: “I think we just need to wait it out longer than these guys are going to survive.
“They’re not going to change, and the problem is they’re fighting fires everywhere.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Farmers protested in Westminster against Labour’s inheritance tax raid
GBNEWS
Noting the support from the public, Fairlie dismissed suggestion from host Ben Leo that the farmers need to be more “disruptive” in their protests.
He explained: “When we are demonstrating the way we are demonstrating, you get a lot of public support and we’re thankful for that. But our argument is not with the public, and effectively that is what it would affect.
“What we’ve seen is a classic move from the supermarket chains. I’m not going to name them, but they’ve backed us and supported us against the IHT, and I completely agree with you that we need to stop the supply chains, but there has been a major supermarket that has put injunctions in place that if we affect anyone of their workforce getting to work, i.e. distribution depots and anything, it’s now illegal, so we can be arrested and sent to prison for it.”
Fairlie added: “So it’s a game of smoke and mirrors, they want to be seen to be supporting the farmers because that’s what the public like at the moment.
Fairlie told GB News that the farmers’ fight is ‘with the Government, not the public’
GB News
“But when it needs to actually come down to the crunch and get on with the job, no, you’re not allowed to do it. So our hands are tied in effect.”
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.”