Farmers Block Port of Holyhead in Protest Against Inheritance Tax

On the night of November 27th, farmers in North Wales staged a protest at the Port of Holyhead, obstructing access to oppose the introduction of a new 20% inheritance tax set to take effect in the UK in 2026.

Arriving in a convoy of tractors around 11:00 PM, the farmers blocked roads leading to the port, maintaining their demonstration until 3:00 AM. The blockade caused significant disruption, halting the movement of goods and passengers.

Heavy goods vehicles were stuck in long queues, while ferry passengers faced delays crossing the Irish Sea. Traffic only began to flow normally again after the farmers dispersed in the early hours of the morning.

This action followed a similar slow-drive protest earlier that day at the Dover Ferry Port. Additionally, roughly a week prior, an estimated 10,000 farmers gathered in Westminster, London, to voice their opposition to the tax change.

Currently, farms are exempt from inheritance tax, but under the forthcoming legislation, estates valued over £1 million will incur a 20% tax.

Farmers argue that while the value of their land may be high, their profit margins are slim. Many fear that inheriting families will be forced to sell portions of their farms to pay the tax, potentially leading to fragmentation of agricultural land and posing a risk to the UK’s food security.