Farmers in tweed, children on toy tractors and celebrities join London protest

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. The Metropolitan Police estimated 13,000 people attended Tuesday’s protest in central London, which called on the Government to scrap those changes announced in the Chancellor’s Budget last month. Rachel Reeves was also referenced on signs, with one placard showing the Chancellor photoshopped as a grim reaper next to two cows in a field with the caption: “Rachel reaper killing feeders.” The bulk of the protest was stationary, with people gathered on Whitehall listening to speeches – including one by Clarkson who last month underwent a heart procedure and told the crowd on Tuesday: “I’m off my tits on codeine and paracetamol up here.” A small group broke off briefly to march in a loop on the roads around Westminster, led by children on toy tractors. “The logistics of it for us to keep going just isn’t financially viable at all, even with an outside job, you still wouldn’t be able to bring in enough money to be able to pay that off.” Farmers also told how the tax changes will affect their daily lives. “Going forward, there is more taxes to come on fertiliser that’s going to affect us hugely as well, so it’s looking pretty grim.” Oliver Atkinson, a young farmer in east Hampshire, said changes to inheritance tax will mean farmers have to take on debt to pay off taxes.