Britain may face national farmers’ strike next week

Welsh pressure group Enough is Enough has just called on “those who are able” to begin a week-long strike, stopping food production.

Welsh farmer and media personality, Gareth Wyn Jones, shared the following message on his social media:

“British farmers have simply had enough, and for those who are able will be going on strike for the first time in history on Sunday the 17th of November for one week. 

“We are being suffocated by a government that seems determined to destroy our livelihoods, our future and our ability to feed the nation. 

“This country wilĺ be facing massive food shortages with potential significant price increases and the demise of the rural economy, along with serious implications of food security. 

“We simply cannot allow the destruction of our industry to continue and our responsibility to feed our nation be taken away. 

“This is a last resort but we as farmers are in despair as we simply cannot afford to provide food to the public. 

“We ask this government to talk to us, to listen to us, and allow us the freedom and flexibility to feed our nation.” 

READ MORE: What does the Budget really mean for farming?

READ MORE: Inheritance tax bills could wipe out farmers’ profits, expert warns

Farming food revolution needed 

Mr Jones told his followers this morning that it is very important for farmers to stick together and get the message out to the government that ‘enough is enough’. 

“We cannot carry on as farming community. For me, it’s a bitter pill to take because I think every single farmer I know wants to go out there and produce food to feed people. 

“We’re businesses, we need to make money, and at this point in time, there’s a lot of businesses that can’t reinvest, that are worried, and the government are not really thinking what they’re doing. 

“They believe that they are taxing some of the richest farmers in the community, but the richest farmers will always find loopholes and get out of it. It’s the family farms that are going to be paying this inheritance tax, the people who can’t really afford that, the farmers that need to be reinvesting into the future, innovation, new technology to produce food affordably. 

“And who will really suffer? The poorer people in society.” 

Mr Jones has also warned that the country will soon struggle with food inflation “through the roof” and said that the UK needs a “farming food revolution”. 

Watch whole video on @YouTubeCreators My thoughts on the farming strike #farming #food #youtubeshorts #governmenthttps://t.co/AfA6t7FrzX pic.twitter.com/1rq31P9IBC

— Gareth Wyn Jones (@1GarethWynJones) November 13, 2024

Farmers’ rally on 19th November 

On Tuesday, 19th November, British farmers will gather in London to show their dissatisfaction with changes to inheritance tax that were announced during the Autumn Budget. 

The participants will meet at Richmond Terrace, Whitehall, London (What3Words fresh.butter.grapes), opposite Downing Street, at 11am.  

Speakers from across agriculture, TV and politics are due to show their support for family farms and wider businesses.   

Following several speeches, a procession will take place to Parliament Square. The procession will be spearheaded by a number of children on toy tractors, signifying the impact of the devastating budget on the future of farming and the countryside.   

The procession will then return to Richmond Terrace for the final address by NFU president, Tom Bradshaw. 

Read more political news.