‘We don’t know if we don’t try’ – Suffolk farmers take part in tractor rally

Farmers gathered at Valley Farm in Wherstead this morning before setting off on a rally through Ipswich town centre towards Port of Felixstowe Road. The run is expected to conclude at around 4pm.

Afterwards, the tractors will be positioned on bridges across the county, without causing disturbance to road users.

Harry Suckling, a fifth-generation farmer from Holbrook who attends the local Day of Unity together with his father, Chris, said: “We’re all unified that this tax is going to affect us so much that my family has 100 years worth of work backed up to get to the farm what it is today, that it threatens the size of that farm, decreasing and becoming less profitable just to pay an inheritance tax bill.” 

Harry hopes that the run will draw public and media attention to the challenges farmers are currently facing. This, in turn, could put pressure on MPs responsible for the Autumn Budget and the proposed changes to the family farm tax.

‘We can’t afford to back down’

Spencer Campbell, a 20-year-old self-employed farm worker, added: “I’m here today to safeguard my future in farming and ensure that my employers can continue to farm so that I have a job for the rest of my life, because farming is my passion and I want to continue to farm.” 

Spencer expressed serious doubts that the Labour government will back down on inheritance tax changes.

“It fills me with disappointment, and I very much suspect everything’s going to continue as it is now. I don’t think we’re going to win, which is awfully sad, but we don’t know if we don’t try. Ultimately, we’re not going to back down because we can’t afford it. 

“There is no plan B, there is no other option, there is no money tree. It’s a tax we just can’t afford to pay.”

‘It’s an unaffordable tax’

Cath Crowther, regional director of CLA in the East, who was among the farmers today, said the representatives of the lobbying organisation attended the Day of Unity to “tell the facts”. 

“And the fact is that this policy is a really, really bad policy. It’s not going to generate the tax that the government keeps on saying it will. It is going to impact the vast majority of farms and wider family businesses,” she continued. 

Ms Crowther explained that the policy could result in 200,000 job losses, a £1.9 billion reduction in tax revenue and further pressure on overall tax income.

“It’s an unaffordable tax. On paper, farmers look wealthy, but that value is tied up in land, buildings, machinery and tractors that are required to grow food and to run farms. That is not cash unless those assets are sold. And on death, there’s no value there, so there are not the funds to be able to pay inheritance tax.” 

Suffolk Constabulary confirmed that several officers have been placed around the county to ensure the safety of farmers, motorists and pedestrians. Find out more about the tractor rally’s route here. 

A DEFRA spokesperson responded to the protests, saying: “Farmers are stewards for our nation’s land and for our food security. Farming also plays a central role in our mission to kickstart economic growth. 

“That is why we are backing them through new technology, streamlined regulation and our nature-friendly farming schemes that are helping farmers produce food for the nation. 

“Our reforms to Agricultural and Business Property Relief are vital to fix the public services we all rely on.”

READ MORE: East Anglia farmers to host tractor run on Day of Unity

READ MORE: Farmers will drive tractors to London on Budget day in call for secure future

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