Devon farmers protest in London and Holsworthy over inheritance tax changes

Tens of thousands converge on capital to lobby MPs

Busloads of farmers from Devon joined the protest in London against proposed changes to inheritance tax..

Hundreds who couldn’t make the trip went to Holsworthy Livestock Market for a “Back British Farming” rally.

The move to introduce inheritance tax on farms worth over £1 million, announced in the budget and to take effect from April 2026, has outraged rural communities in Devon who have disputed Labour’s claims that it won’t impact small family farms.

The National Farmers Union organised the protest in the capital for 1,800 of its members on Tuesday (19 November) but tens of thousands more farmers turned up, some in tractors, as part of an independent protest.

Sheep and beef farmer from Petrockstowe Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, a Torridge District Liberal Democrat Councillor, was one of the protesters who was invited to part of the official lobby making the case to Conservative MPs Geoffrey Cox (Torridge and West Devon), Mel Stride (Central Devon) and Rebecca Smith (South West Devon) in Westminster.

She said it was time MPs voiced concerns in the House of Commons.

“We hear support from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Reform but we need our MPs to be there in parliament demanding action. We need them to speak up for us.

“This is our chance to persuade the government to think again. We say enough is enough. This inheritance tax is the final straw for farmers, they have been through so much, Brexit, changes to the payment systems and a lack of clarity.

“It makes it very difficult to plan for the future. Just when we thought we had a hold of this they have now thrown us off course and it’s brutal. It’s a massive blow and will directly impact so many businesses in our rural communities. Farming is the backbone of our economy.”

The farmer said the amount of money that would be saved from this move was in the region of £500 million which would fund the NHS for “a day and a half” and did not make any sense.

“The government would be much better investing in the production of high quality food which would make us all healthier and reduce the burden on the NHS.”

She said the support from Londoners on the tube was “heartening” and it was good to bring rural issues to the attention of those living in the capital.

People had travelled to the city in separate buses from Hatherleigh, Holsworthy and North Devon leaving in the early hours of Tuesday, she said.

“It’s been emotional as there are tens of thousand of people here and many children. I think we have been taken aback, in a good way, of the support we have received.”

Since 1984 farmers and agricultural land and business owners have been exempt from inheritance tax because of tax reliefs that can apply to estates.

From April 2026 farmers will have to pay 20 per cent tax on all inherited farming assets over £1 million.

There are around 5,000 family farms in North Devon alone. The majority are thought to have assets over £1 million as a farmhouse and a few acres can soon amount to that much.

Family farmers, who it is claimed earn a modest income of around £20,000, are said to be “cash poor and asset rich” and may have to sell land to pay the inheritance tax bill, making less land available for producing food.

Prime minister Kier Starmer claims that the “vast majority” of farms will not be affected with the reforms which he says will hit the wealthiest 500 estates each year.

The tax will also include exemptions for spouses meaning a couple with farmland can pass on up to £3 million of assets without paying any income tax

The government is proposing changes because it says the top seven per cent of those who claim account for 40% of the total value of agricultural property relief, costing the taxpayer £219 million.

It says it is not fair for a very small number of claimants each year to claim such a significant amount of relief, when this money could better be used to fund our public services.

Torridge District Councillor Teresa Tinsley (Lib Dem, Bideford North) who spoke at the Holsworthy Livestock Market protest said there was “an amazing turnout” and “incredible strength of feeling” at the event hosted by Kivells and organised by Penbode Vets.

“It’s absolutely heartbreaking to see this latest blow for farmers. Some have told me they will have to borrow the money to pay the inheritance tax because their income is so low. When you look at the hours they work, it is well below the minimum wage.”

People at the event spoke of the mental health issues experienced by farmers which would only be exacerbated by the worry over inheritance tax.