Farmers wielding tractors forced Britain’s biggest shipping port to a standstill overnight in a fiery protest against cheap imports and harsh new farming inheritance taxes.
Members of the East Anglia Farmers Unite Group rolled into the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk just before midnight Thursday, blocking both entrance gates. Police watched closely as the blockade kicked off.
Farmers Fight Back Against Foreign Imports and Tax Hikes
The demo was sparked by two main issues:
- A surge in low-quality, cheaper fruit is flooding the UK market from abroad
- The government’s plan to slap a 20% tax on inherited farmland worth over £1 million starting in 2026
One frustrated farmer explained, “British growers are getting crushed. Imported fruit doesn’t meet our welfare standards or costs, yet it’s sold cheaper.”
Felixstowe Port confirmed they had prior warning and said shipping stayed on track, though some land-side delays hit freight operators. A spokesman apologised to customers caught up in the chaos.
Local haulier Adam Searle called the disruption “frustrating” and praised the secretive planning that avoided public clashes. Suffolk Police lauded organisers for keeping the protest peaceful and safe.
