OFC: Tractor protest held in Oxford as Steve Reed addresses farmers
9th January 2025
Farmers honked their horns during the Defra secretary’s speech at OFC.
Around 100 tractors took to the streets of Oxford to protest against the ‘family farm tax’ as Defra secretary Steve Reed gave the opening address at the Oxford Farming Conference.
Tractors outside the conference honked their horns throughout Mr Reed’s speech this morning (9th January), during which he outlined his “new deal for farmers”.
Farmers gathered from 9am outside the Examinations School on Oxford High Street where the conference took place.
The protest was the latest in a series of actions against the government since the October Budget was released.
Much of the backlash is around the decision to apply inheritance tax to farms worth more than £1 million, from April 2026. Only 50% relief will then apply, resulting in an effective tax of 20%.
Tractors could be seen with banners and placards saying ‘No farmers, no food, axe the tax’ and ‘save our farms’.
Speaking during the conference, Mr Reed said of the changes to IHT: “It wasn’t something we intended or wanted to do before we saw the state of the public finances, and of course, I regret that […].”
READ MORE: What did Steve Reed announce at the Oxford Farming Conference?
We will have to sell the farm
Farmer Heidi Smith told the BBC during the protest: “It’s going to be particularly difficult for farmers in high-value land areas such as Oxfordshire.
“Our children when we pass the farm on will not be able to pay the inheritance tax whilst keeping the farm intact.”
Andy Corner, who owns a farm in Oxfordshire, told the Oxford Mail: “Realistically my family will have to sell the farm [if the tax goes ahead].
“We’re just not making enough money to support that. We might be asset rich, but most of us aren’t actually planning on selling, we’re planning on moving it on to our families.
“The money that we’ve got is for the next generation, and trying to make a living for them.”
Fellow Oxfordshire farmer Julie Adams said: “We don’t believe a word [Steve Reed] says because he lied last year, he promised not to bring in the inheritance tax and he has, so his words mean nothing really.”
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