Farmers protest inheritance tax proposals force Prime Minister to leave Newport Pagnell
Sir Kier Starmer was in Buckinghamshire to discuss the proposals for new towns
Last updated 13th Feb 2025
British farmers have launched a protest at a new build site in Newport Pagnell, as the Prime Minister announces proposals for new towns across the country.
Sir Kier Starmer failed to speak on the plans for new towns, leaving the site after farmers protests caused 'concerns'.
A dozen farmers and their tractors blocked the exit in Buckinghamshire this morning.
Sir Kier Starmer's been in the county, after the Government announcement of more than 100 possible locations having been suggested for new towns in England.
The Prime Minister's promised "the largest housebuilding programme since the post-war era".
However, the spotlight was stolen by farmers and tractors, who staged a protest at the site, against changes on farmer's inheritance tax, which could see family farms taxed more, for handing down their land.
The proposals for farmers has been introduced by Labour, who insist it will not make a U-turn on its plans to introduce a 20% inheritance tax rate on farms worth more than £1 million.
The changes announced in the Budget are due to come into force in April 2026 and scrap an exemption which meant no inheritance tax was paid to pass down family farms.
Farmer's protests in Buckinghamshire come just days after Save British Farming organised a rally to protest the plans, with MPs also debating an e-petition with more than 148,000 signatures calling to keep the current inheritance tax exemptions for working farms.
The UK currently produces around 60% of its food – meaning that two in five products are imported from other countries.
With the inheritance tax, famers are expecting this number to rise more.
Laura's a farmer from Northamptonshire, who was at the protest.
She said: "We got a dozen through the first set of gates, there's more further up the road, and we've come far and wide."
Laura's among farmers who joined the protest, which is said to include part of their friend's land.
The focus of today's visit by Sir Kier Starmer was to discuss the plans for towns gaining new homes.
Each new town will have the potential for 10,000 or more residential properties as the Government seeks to sweep away red tape and overcome environmental objections to get housing built.
A separate project to push ahead with stalled housing projects has already unblocked 20,000 homes, Sir Keir said.
However, the discussion was halted when a dozen farmers blocked the entrance to the site, between Milton Keynes and Newport Pagnell.