Farmers vent fury at Labour's conference

THE Labour party's controversial proposed reforms of farm inheritance tax were the catalyst that led 1,200 disgruntled British farmers to converge on Liverpool and stage a protest at the Labour Party Conference.

- Julie Harding

Gareth Wyn Jones, an internet personality and farmer, told The Telegraph: 'We've come here in numbers to show our grievances and frustrations to this Government for not listening to farming communities and families, especially over inheritance tax. It's a dire situation.'

Organised by Farmers to Action (FTA) as the climax to its Trailer of Truth tour, many of the protestors carried black placards that read 'With our farmers', as a mock funeral procession symbolised the potential death of the industry and its high rates of suicide. Jo Wood, co-organiser of FTA, said: 'We [aim] to bring more awareness of farming's plight and especially to highlight Labour's stance on inheritance tax and what an abomination it is. We have achieved... exposure, but no MPs were brave enough to meet us on the day.'