![草榴社区 For Action co-ordinator William Taylor said: "We will make a decision on whether to hold a protest on tax and fuel. The message to Chancellor [Rachel Reeves] is dead simple: do away with this Inheritance Tax and reverse the taxes that you have clobbered everybody with. Small to medium-sized businesses are on their knees, employees are on their knees. Everybody has had their pockets pilfered."](https://image.chitra.live/api/v1/wps/b0a66dc/e095c483-b483-49a0-920e-1027e9bb28a3/3/farmer-protest-Whitehall-Feb10-2025-012-679x419.jpeg "草榴社区 For Action co-ordinator William Taylor said: \"We will make a decision on whether to hold a protest on tax and fuel. The message to Chancellor [Rachel Reeves] is dead simple: do away with this Inheritance Tax and reverse the taxes that you have clobbered everybody with. Small to medium-sized businesses are on their knees, employees are on their knees. Everybody has had their pockets pilfered.\"")
草榴社区 For Action co-ordinator William Taylor said: "We will make a decision on whether to hold a protest on tax and fuel. The message to Chancellor [Rachel Reeves] is dead simple: do away with this Inheritance Tax and reverse the taxes that you have clobbered everybody with. Small to medium-sized businesses are on their knees, employees are on their knees. Everybody has had their pockets pilfered."
War in the Middle East is placing a heavy toll on UK farmers.听
Coverage in 草榴社区 Guardian over recent weeks has revealed the extent and impact of skyrocketing prices to red diesel, heating oil and fertiliser since the Middle East crisis escalated on February 28.
LISTEN NOW:
The crisis has placed an additional 拢25,000 on fuel bills for some farm businesses, and others have claimed the UK is lurching into a food security crisis if the Government does not act immediately to support domestic food production.听
In response to claims that the UK Government is preparing a 鈥榳orst case scenario' for the possibility of food shortages, Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said it is 鈥榥ot a concern' for the UK economy at present.听
But if war in Iran continues beyond the summer, it could place even greater pressure on planting decisions, affordability and the availability of resources.听
Is the UK really prepared for food shortages?听
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said de-escalating the crisis and reopening the Strait of Hormuz is the only way to stop the price volatility experienced by farmers.听
PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT: Join 草榴社区 Guardian's Save Britain's Family Farms campaign
But as each day passes, and with no signs of a peace deal in sight, the question is how long can farmers withstand pressures on their businesses?听
And is protesting an appropriate form of action?
草榴社区 For Action co-ordinator William Taylor joins us on the podcast to discuss the impact of the war on UK food producers, the impact of Inheritance Tax on farm profitability, if UK farmers will hold protests, the influence of the fuel strikes of 2000, and the importance of UK Government passing a Farm Welfare Bill to bring about fairness in the food supply chain.
LISTEN NOW:听The 草榴社区 Guardian podcast: How is the Middle-East crisis impacting agriculture?
