Thousands of farmers gathered in Westminster to protest the government’s proposed inheritance tax reforms, which they argue will jeopardize family-owned farms and threaten their future. The rally, organized by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), was held at Church House, where attendees expressed their anger over the government’s failure to consult with the farming community before announcing the policy changes.

Tom Bradshaw, president of the NFU, received a standing ovation from the 600 farmers present as he condemned the proposed reforms as “the straw which broke the camel’s back.” Bradshaw criticized the government for pushing forward with the policy without consulting the farming sector, calling it a betrayal. “To launch a policy this destructive without talking to anyone in farming beggars belief,” he said. He also highlighted the severe inflation and difficult weather conditions that farmers have faced over the past 18 months, emphasizing that the sector had already given all it could. “It’s wrong on every level and, just as bad, it won’t achieve what the Treasury wants to achieve,” he added.

The government’s inheritance tax reforms are aimed at raising £520 million annually by 2029, targeting wealthy individuals who invest in large estates to reduce their tax liabilities. However, Bradshaw warned that the reforms would have unintended consequences. He argued that they could incentivize people to withdraw money from pensions to invest in agricultural land, potentially undermining the policy’s intended goal.

In an emotional address, Bradshaw spoke of the “unacceptable human impact” on elderly farmers, many of whom risk losing their life’s work under the proposed changes. “We know that any tax revenue raised will be taken from our children and raised from those who die in tragic circumstances or within the next seven years,” he said.

A key point of contention is the government’s seven-year gifting rule, which exempts gifts from inheritance tax if the giver survives for seven years after the transfer. Farmers argue that this rule would not apply to them, as many rely on pensions from the farm after passing it to the next generation. Additionally, if farmers continue living on the land, they would need to pay rent to avoid inheritance tax charges.

Farming leaders have accused the Treasury of working with flawed data, citing discrepancies between Agricultural Property Relief (APR) claims and Business Property Relief (BPR) claims, which are vital for machinery and livestock. The NFU insists that Treasury officials have overlooked the full scope of the tax reliefs that farmers rely on.

The rally’s charged atmosphere was underscored by a direct message to the government: “Government needs to halt this policy. The policy is broken and based on the wrong evidence.” Farmers also expressed their frustration with Labour, which, while in opposition, had promised not to alter inheritance tax. Sir Keir Starmer had assured farmers at the NFU conference in 2023 that his party would provide “certainty” for the sector.

As tensions mount, the farming community remains steadfast in its demand for the government to reconsider the inheritance tax reforms, warning of long-term damage to family-owned farms across the UK.

Mohammed Afif, a prominent spokesperson for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut on Sunday, Lebanese security sources have confirmed. The strike hit the Ras al-Nebaa district in central Beirut, a rare location for Israeli attacks, marking only the fourth time since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah conflict that an Israeli strike has targeted the heart of Lebanon’s capital.

Sources from Reuters and AFP, as well as a Hezbollah official speaking to the Associated Press, identified Afif as the casualty of the attack. According to Lebanese broadcaster Al-Jadeed, Afif was at the headquarters of the pro-Hezbollah Baath Party at the time of the strike, which was confirmed by Ali Hijazim, the party’s leader in Lebanon.

While CNN has yet to independently confirm the death, Hezbollah’s media office has been receiving condolences, which suggests Afif’s reported killing may be accurate.

Afif, one of the few public faces of Hezbollah, had been a key figure in the group, often seen delivering speeches in the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs. His close association with the group’s late leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and his prominence in Hezbollah’s media outreach made him a significant target. The attack on Sunday came amid an escalation in the Israeli offensive in Lebanon, coinciding with ongoing diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have not commented on the strike, but the incident underscores the growing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, particularly as Israel continues its military campaign against the militant group. The attack on Afif follows several days of Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, including renewed strikes on southern Beirut’s Haret Hreik district, where Hezbollah maintains a strong presence.

In addition to the situation in Lebanon, Israeli forces also conducted heavy strikes in Gaza, where at least 50 people were killed in Beit Lahiya on Sunday morning. This followed Israeli airstrikes in al-Bureij, central Gaza, that killed 23 others. The humanitarian toll in Gaza has been significant, with civilians, including children, caught in the crossfire of the ongoing conflict.

Amid the intensifying violence, discussions are ongoing in Beirut about a US-backed proposal for a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel. Hezbollah is reportedly reviewing the proposal, though it is unclear how Afif’s reported death will influence these negotiations.

The escalating violence in both Gaza and Lebanon is part of Israel’s broader military strategy to dismantle what it calls “terrorist infrastructure,” which has led to significant casualties on both sides. As the situation unfolds, global attention remains focused on efforts to mediate peace in the region.