'We will have to do something far more severe and restrict food supplies around the country if the Government won't listen'

FARMERS could choke off food supplies across the country if Sir Keir Starmer's Government continues its attack on their livelihoods.

- Steph Spyro

The industry will not back down in its fight against Chancellor Rachel Reeves's inheritance tax raid and changes to subsidies, warned one of the leaders of last month's mass protest over the hated measures.

Andrew Ward said farmers would first stage two or three peaceful events like the one he and four others led in November, before they would consider potential militant action for next year.

Andrew, 63, who runs a farm near Sleaford, Lincolnshire, said: "The five of us are determined we will keep going with this and if the Government doesn't listen, we will not back down now that we've started.

"We've got a lot of public support and eventually we'll have to do something far more severe and restrict food supplies around the country.

"We're not doing that yet. We don't want to do that. That's the last thing we want to do. But if the Government won't listen, they're going to leave us with no alternative." In her October Budget, Ms Reeves announced inheritance tax relief for farms would be limited to £1million, meaning assets above that threshold passed down to the next generation would be taxed. The Treasury says some 500 estates a year are expected to pay the tax under the changes.

However, campaigners have warned it could affect around 75,000 farms.