Sir Keir Starmer insisted farmers had a right to protest, but most would not be harmed by the inheritance tax raid.
The Prime Minister yesterday played down anger over the so-called “tractor tax” as thousands of angry farmers prepared to storm London on Tuesday.
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The tax change will impose a 20 per cent tax on family farms worth more than £1m from April 2026.
But Sir Keir said he was confident the £3m tax break threshold meant the “vast majority” of farms would not be affected.
He also urged ministers to explain the policy better, telling reporters: “It's important for us to continue to communicate how this works.”
When asked if cops should crack down on protesting farmers like Just Stop Oil, he said: “They are entitled to express their opinions. I understand their concerns..
“As for how the protest is shaped and what the response is, that will be up to them and the police how to respond to it.”
A senior minister also revealed plans are being drawn up to deal with food shortages if farmers go ahead with their threat to strike over the controversial family farm tax.
In an attempt to allay fears of shelf shortages, Transport Secretary Louise Hay told Sky News: “The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will be making plans for the winter and – as usual – making contingency plans and ensuring food security is provided. Treating it as the priority it deserves.”
