There was a solid turnout for yesterday's farmers' protest and 'march'. The meeting point was moved out of Trafalgar Square as too many were expected. The crowds filled Parliament Street from the podium outside Downing Street to Parliament Square, back to back. I've never seen so many Barbour jackets in one place, nor realized their value. As a few of us 'civvies' who dared the weather squirmed our way through the heavy rain, farmers with ruddy faces and stoic smiles nudged each other, commenting on how mild it was. And yes, it was mild. The crowd was. I listened in to many snippets of conversation, as I tried and failed to get closer to the stage to catch Jeremy Clarkson's speech. I could hear comments of, "Why is that person carrying a placard mentioning the miners?" This was a crowd of white British landowners laced with a healthy dose of rugged farm workers, all looking startled to be in what must have been the greatest gathering of farmers seen in the UK. I have zero doubt the majority went with the C19 narrative and have always been compliant.
There seemed to be an air of shock that they even needed to do such a city-type thing as protest in such a public, almost demeaning manner. These British farmers are not like the French farmers or more down-to-earth humble Irish farmers. Some great roars came up from the crowd that rippled in a wave as it moved down Parliament Street, but the shock of the weakness of the protest was still to come. Even Clarkson himself was apologetic, suggesting the government had just made a hasty mistake with this legislation. The shock was when the NFU leader then told the crowd that since so many had come, there were really too many to march, so could everyone now quietly go home. He then added, "Slowly, one by one... oh and do pick up every last piece of rubbish, so not one wet handkerchief is left behind." They gave one large roar so anyone inside Downing Street could hear, and the crowd dutifully melted away back to their awaiting coaches.
In general, the placards were polite, gentle and pleading to common sense...
The farmers with £1m in home/farm/land assets are being targeted with 20% inheritance tax.
This seems a lot of value but when you think of the current average price of a standard domestic house of around £320,000 we can see what will happen if they next come for normal homeowners.
4-5% of UK homes were valued at over £1 million
12-15% of homes in London are now over £1 million
They are starting at 1 million will lower the threshold for farmers.
They will come after all assets in the same way.
Rich or poor, we need our small farmers.
The petition was at 200k when I sent out Monday's newsletter.
Today it is at 250k.
