Furious farmers ‘besiege’ Wales Labour Conference in protest over Reeves’s tax raid
Hundreds of farmers have descended on the Welsh Labour Conference in Llandudno, staging a tractor protest against inheritance tax changes announced in the recent Budget.
The demonstration saw agricultural vehicles line up outside Venue Cymru, where Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made a speech.
Protest organisers Digon yw Digon – which translates as ‘Enough is Enough’ – called for people to “stand shoulder to shoulder with farmers and rural communities”.
Demonstrators brought tractors, slurry tankers, lorries and 4x4s with trailers to make their voices heard.
Farmers expressed their fury over the new tax measures
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Placards declared there was “blood on Labour hands” and “Labour war on countryside” as farmers expressed their fury over the new tax measures.
Protesters chanted “save our farms” while tractor horns blared on the promenade, attempting to ensure politicians inside the building heard their message.
The Chancellor used her first Budget to announce changes to agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR) from April 2026.
Under the new rules, the first £1million of combined business and agricultural assets will continue to attract no inheritance tax.
However, for assets above £1m, inheritance tax will apply with 50 per cent relief, at an effective rate of 20 per cent.
A row has erupted over the exact impact of these changes, with conflicting data from different government departments.
Treasury data suggests three-quarters of farmers will pay nothing under the new rules.
But farmers dispute these figures, citing Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs data indicating 66 per cent of farm businesses are worth more than the £1m threshold.
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Demonstrators brought tractors, slurry tankers, lorries and 4x4s with trailers to make their voices heard
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The Prime Minister avoided confrontation with the protesters by leaving the venue through a back gate with a police escort, drawing boos from demonstrators.
High-profile farmer Gareth Wyn Jones condemned the PM’s actions on GB News, saying: “He didn’t come and face the audience, he didn’t come and talk to us, he went out the back.
“He went back to his London hideout while hundreds of farmers turned out to air their frustrations and grievances.
“We need to feed this nation in a sustainable and affordable way, and this Government does not care one iota.”
A woman protester who witnessed Starmer’s departure said: “He sneaked in the back way. He can’t face up to people who voted him in. I come from a farming family. I never thought I would see the day our farmers were provoked into having to come and make a point.”
Inside the conference, Sir Keir Starmer stood firm on the Budget decisions despite the protests outside.
“Make no mistake, I will defend our decisions in the Budget all day long,” he told delegates, avoiding explicit mention of the inheritance tax changes.
Protest organisers Digon yw Digon – which translates as ‘Enough is Enough’ – called for people to “stand shoulder to shoulder with farmers and rural communities”
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He added: “I will defend facing up to the harsh light of fiscal reality. I will defend the tough decisions that would be necessary to stabilise our economy.”
The Prime Minister instead focused on highlighting investment, announcing £21billion for Wales next year, which he called “a record figure”.
He praised Wales for having “carried the torch” for Labour during Conservative rule in Westminster, celebrating the election of 27 MPs that made Wales a “Tory-free zone”.
A £160m investment zone in Wrexham and Flintshire was also confirmed for next year.
Farmers warned the inheritance tax changes would have severe consequences for food prices and industry survival.
A Snowdonia farmer who wished to remain anonymous said the budget plans would have “a hell of an impact.”
“People are in debt as it is. Our impression is Labour hates farmers,” he said, warning: “There will be more empty shelves if things go the way they are.”
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