‘We are wrong business to target’ – Suffolk farmers express their frustration during tractor protest
12th December 2024
Tens of farmers from across East Anglia took part in the tractor protest on the A14 near the Port of Felixstowe, showing their frustration with recent policies but also hoping that the government will come up with a “fair solution” for this hard-working industry.
One of the organisers of the Suffolk ‘go-slow’ protest, Russel Abbott, who farms on the Shotley Peninsula, said he was “absolutely amazed” by the turnout during yesterday’s protest at the A14.
He explained that the demonstration was set to keep the pressing issues for farmers in the public awareness.
“We hoped to get our message across to the public. We need people’s support. We need them to pick up British produce in shops and supermarkets. Without them, we don’t have anything,” he said.
Mr Abbott added: “We’re not happy. More needs to be done. And the government needs to listen.”
READ MORE: GALLERY: Over 50 tractors attend ‘go-slow’ protest in Suffolk
A Suffolk potato farmer, Chris Suckling, attended the rally with his son Harry to protest against changes that will severely affect his business.
He said: “The farm will no longer be viable for harry to take over unless some things change. We don’t have any cash to pay the tax. We have the assets, but they are the tools you need to perform your job.
“We are the wrong business to target.”
Will Suckling, a fifth-generation farmer, added that he would like to stay in business, however, the recent Budget does not help younger farmers to take over family farms.
Farmers want to be supported and understood
Another Suffolk farmer, Mike Clarke, said that he and his colleagues attended the protest to stand against the changes to inheritance tax and pressure the government to “come up with something that is fair for the industry”.
Mr Clarke added that farmers can embrace the change, however, currently they do not see the support and understanding from the government.
John Mitchell, who farms near Manningtree in Essex, said that the changes to inheritance tax are a “quite a bigger picture than people think”.
He added: “I’ll have to raise probably a million pounds. It’s not just a million pounds, it’s another 40% capital gains tax, so that’s 1.4 million and it just goes on.
“I hope that Keir Starmer will listen. If he wants to see me, come and see me or I’ll go to see him and I’ll explain the situation, because they’ve been misinformed and misled.”
READ MORE: ‘Food security is national security’- Farmers protest in London
Read more political news.
