Should British farmers be protesting in the streets?

Frustration is mounting amongst British farmers over altered inheritance tax regulations, which have led to plans for demonstrations in London today. High-profile figures, like Jeremy Clarkson, are anticipated to join the rally outside Parliament. The government remains firm on not backtracking on what's been dubbed one of the most divisive new policies from the Autumn Budget.

Have your say! Should farmers be protesting about the inheritance tax changes? Should they fall in line with other types of business? What do you think about threats to block roads? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.

Back in October, it was unveiled that in the future, farms exceeding a value of £1 million would be liable for inheritance tax, a stark deviation from previous rules. Officials defended this by stating they were sealing "loopholes" within the complex inheritance tax framework, and making "tough choices" to ensure significant public sector investment over the subsequent five years.

This issue has been escalating tensions between the rural populace and the Labour government, leading to countrywide protests by farmers and their supporters, hoping to persuade the Prime Minister to reconsider. A protest coinciding with a Welsh Labour conference already took place over the weekend, with another set for London this Tuesday.

The National Farmers' Union (NFU), representing upwards of 45,000 enterprises, has criticised the amendment as a "Family Farm Tax". They've initiated a petition against the legislation, racking up nearly 200,000 signatures so far.

A section of the petition states: "If this tax change goes ahead, it will deal a hammer blow to farming families, after decades of tightening margins, record inflation, extreme weather and increased production costs, many farmers and growers are at breaking point, unable to absorb any more cost burden.

"This matters because it has the potential to reduce UK food production and alongside the increases in employment costs, the cost of food production rises, with many people still facing a cost-of-living crisis."

Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner has responded by saying: "I urge people to look calmly at the detail and I think they will find that the vast majority will be fine. The figures from the Treasury are very clear: under 500 farms a year are likely to be affected and I would say to people, take advice because every person's situation is different and there will be many, many people who will find they are not actually going to be caught by this."

However, some farmers and influential figures have suggested more drastic actions, although these are not endorsed by the NFU. One such proposal circulating on social media involves using farming equipment to obstruct roads or ports - but 'wilful obstruction of the highway' is a criminal offence, as other protest groups have shown in recent years.

Another tactic that has been floated is withholding farm produce as a way to pressure the government through food security. Transport Minister Louise Haigh has asserted that provisions are in place for such events, saying: "The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will be setting out plans for the winter and setting out - as business as usual - contingency plans and ensuring that food security is treated as the priority it deserves to be."

Have your say! Should farmers be protesting about the inheritance tax changes? Should they fall in line with other types of business? What do you think about threats to block roads? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.