Government accused of ‘hammer blow’ to farmers as thousands protest in London

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Government has been accused of dealing a “hammer blow” to farmers as 13,000 people protested in Whitehall over the Budget’s impact on farming. And he told the PA news agency: “If she would have wanted to take out the likes of James Dyson and investment bankers and so on, she would have used a sniper’s rifle, but she’s used a blunderbuss and she’s hit all this lot.” The human impact of this policy is simply not acceptable, it’s wrong Tom Bradshaw, NFU president NFU president Tom Bradshaw told members in a speech before they met with MPs that the policy was “kicking the legs out from under British food security” and was putting “horrendous pressure on the older generation of farmers who have given everything to providing food for this country”. “Our request is very simple, this is a policy that will rip the heart out of Britain’s family farms, launched on bad data with no consultation, and it must be halted and considered properly.” And he told journalists that Rachel Reeves had refused to engage with the NFU on the issue, adding: “The human impact of this policy is one I don’t believe they intended but the longer they leave this hanging, the more I start to think it’s vindictive, rather than miscalculated.” But a Government spokesperson said ministers from both Treasury and the Environment Department had regularly engaged with the NFU. It really is farmers versus Starmer.” Speaking to the PA news agency, shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins said she had “real-life examples” such as one elderly farmer considering whether “it would be better for him to pass away” before the inheritance tax changes come through.