East Anglia farmers will take part in ‘go-slow’ tractor protest

The rally will take place tomorrow, 11th December. Protesters are set to meet at Walk Farm on Felixstowe Road in Levington, Suffolk, at 10am. For the exact location, the what3words are: joked.recital.responds. 

They will then drive their tractors to Felixstowe for 11am. The ‘go-slow’ protest will start on the Port of Felixstowe Road, with tractors taking one lane of the carriageway between two big roundabouts until 4pm. 

The demonstration has been organised by two Suffolk farmers, Russel Abbott and Sam Steward. 

Mr Abbott said that farmers need to show “togetherness” in the battle against changes to the inheritance tax reliefs that have recently been announced by chancellor Rachel Reeves. 

“I hope our rally will draw the public to back British farming, because the government hasn’t just shafted farmers. It shafted everybody. 

“This Budget is a bad Budget. The small family farmers, like myself and Sam, who try to produce some of the best quality British produce, are going to be destroyed. The new policies are going to finish us. 

“There’s no coming back from this. We can’t afford to pay the inheritance tax, especially with no control over our commodities,” the farmer added. 

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

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

London rally 

Another tractor rally is set to take place tomorrow in Whitehall, London. Campaigners Save British Farming and Fairness for Farmers have just confirmed that farmers will gather from 10 am and drive through London. 

The previous farmers’ rally in London, which took place on 19th November, saw thousands of farmers arriving in the capital to showcase their dissatisfaction with governmental polices. 

The organiser of the Suffolk ‘go-slow’ protest said that he attended the rally. He added: “That was a very well-run protest, and I think that speaks volumes of the support within agriculture.  

“Not only farmers attended the rally. A lot of people from the general public took part in it to support farmers because they know how valuable our work is.” 

Mr Abbott said that about 50 tractors are expected to attend tomorrow’s protest in Felixstowe. 

He concluded by saying that Suffolk Police were “absolutely fantastic” with supporting the organisation of tomorrow’s tractor protest. 

READ MORE: Time and place confirmed for Wednesday’s tractor rally in London 

READ MORE: Stories from the crowd: ‘Don’t argue with the countryside’ 

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