Farmers have mounted a protest against planned changes to inheritance tax with tractors on Edinburgh city bypass today.

NFU Scotland organised the event as part of a weekend of action involving all four of the UK’s farming unions.

Dozens of crofters and farmers gathered at Old Craighall at around 10am before travelling to the Gogar roundabout and continuing along the A1.

Those in attendance have only blocked one lane as they aimed to minimise disruption for motorists.

Footage and images captured of the protest showed motorists slowing down on opposite lanes to watch the long trail of tractors pass by.

Edinburgh Live reports that several horns could be heard tooting in a show of support for the farmers and signs were visible reading ‘No Farms, No Food’ as well as ‘Back British Farming’ and ‘Stop The Family Farm Tax.’

The protest is against proposed UK Government changes to agricultural property relief, with a 20 per cent inheritance tax on farm businesses worth more than £1 million.

The NFU argued that the lifting of the exemption threatened the viability of family farms across the country and said this will have a knock on effect on businesses up and down the UK supply chain. The union added the event will also act as an opportunity for farmers and crofters to show their gratitude to the public for their support while also taking the opportunity to engage with politicians.

The UK government plans to scrap an inheritance tax exemption for farms worth more the £1m and have dug their heels in despite opposition. They said 75 per cent of farms across the country will not be impacted by the changes. Labour also claimed the proposal will only impact the wealthiest of farmers.

NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy said: “Scotland’s farmers and crofters have once again demonstrated their key, but often unnoticed, role in rural communities by helping with the clear up operations following the devastating storm last Friday. Our decision to postpone events was welcomed and commended by emergency services.

NFU Scotland president Martin Kennedy (Image: NFU Scotland)

“These events however were planned as part of a UK-wide day of action to send yet another loud and clear message to Westminster that proposed inheritance tax changes would have a devastating impact on prime producers, threaten our family farms and national food security. It was great to see to see so many, well supported events take place in England, Wales and Northern Ireland go ahead as planned and this weekend Scotland’s farmers, crofters and supporters will have that opportunity too.

“Events across Scotland are now being scheduled to take place on either Saturday 1 or Sunday 2 February. I encourage all NFU Scotland members along with others involved with the farming sector to take part and raise awareness of how these taxations proposals would impact their businesses.

“NFU Scotland representatives will be in Westminster this week to meet with a range of MPs to raise the serious concerns of our members. The tractor rallies are just part of our wider, ongoing fight, alongside the other UK farming Unions, to get these taxation proposals reviewed by the UK Government as we campaign to #StopTheFamilyFarmTax.”

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