A convoy of over 100 tractors sporting Union flags and protest signs journeyed through central London on Monday night, as British farmers demonstrated against perceived government neglect of the agricultural industry.
The farmers finished their protest outside the Houses of Parliament, alongside hundreds of supporters on foot.
The display marked the most substantial farmers’ protest to date in England, aiming to spotlight concerns over perceived insufficient support for domestic food production.
The demonstration, organised by Save British Farming and Fairness for Farmers of Kent, saw farmers expressing their unease with current policies. They argued these policies favour cheap food imports over local produce, posing a threat to the nation’s food security.
Banners with slogans such as “save British farming” and “no farming, no food, no future” proliferated at the protest, both of which are well-recognised slogans after several months of social media campaigning.
This latest event was part of a broader wave of farmer-led protests across Europe, where demonstrators in countries like Greece, Germany, Portugal, Poland, and France have been vocal against European Union regulations and the influx of low-cost imports.
Charlotte Gracias, co-founder of Together Declaration, a campaigning group focused on scrutinising government overreach on issues such as net zero and lockdown policy, told The Epoch Times: “I’ve been concerned about the quality and provenance of what I eat for a few years and increasingly aware of the poor behaviour of supermarkets towards farmers.
Ms. Gracias, who was present at the protest, said: “I was fortunate enough to get involved with the No Farmers, No Food campaign in January 2024 and am now working on local initiatives to buy direct from farmers and farm shops. The farmers’ protest yesterday was well overdue.
“Our food supply is the most important issue we currently face. To make any progress, we need to see more protests, countrywide and on a much larger scale, with some very clear leadership, demands, and outcomes stated.”
Although there have been smaller-scale protests in regions such as Kent and Cornwall, the rally on Monday stood out for its size. In response to the growing discontent, the British government has asserted its commitment to placing agriculture at the forefront of its trade agenda.
Howard Cox, Reform UK’s candidate for the London mayoral election, told The Epoch Times: “UK drivers along with British farmers are the commercial heartbeat of the economy. Both rely on each other to ‘deliver’ for the nation. But sadly out of touch politicians have alienated both in the pursuit of ill-informed environmental policies.
“Protesting farmers lawfully and peacefully showed their anger in Westminster, but note well Prime Minister [Rishi Sunak], your last few months in power could be made even worse if they decide to show their real teeth. FairFuelUK supporters and my party back them to the hilt.”
It comes after thousands of farmers from across Wales converged on the Senedd in Cardiff on Feb. 28, with many also carrying placards reading “No Farmers, No Food.”
That protest was organised to voice concerns over critical issues affecting the Welsh agricultural sector, as the devolved Labour government is poised to introduce new regulations.
At the heart of the protest in Wales is proposed changes to subsidies, which would mandate that farmers dedicate 10 percent of their land to forestry and another 10 percent to wildlife habitats. This move has sparked widespread concern among the farming community, with fears for farmers’ livelihoods and the broader agricultural landscape.
During a meeting with protesters outside the Welsh Conservative Conference in Llandudno on Feb. 23, Mr. Sunak engaged directly with leading protesters, assuring them, “We’re going to do everything we can because we’ve got your back.”
