The feeders vs the leaders: Farmers digging deep for 2025 fight

Her feelings are echoed as you drive through the countryside of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Placards by the roadside, posters on farm gates and signs that linger on tractors from the protests: “No farmers, no food.”

And in many a country pub, there are hastily arranged meetings to discuss the same thing: what next?

Don’t expect them to back down. They won’t.

“We’ll go all the way”, says Anna, who has helped to arrange the rallies. She is not at the point of threatening withholding food deliveries, but warns: “If needs be, that might be the way that we have to go.”

And I know what you are thinking. Will we witness “French-style” protests: blazing hay bales in busy streets, the blocking of motorways, waste being dumped at municipal offices?

I very much doubt it. It’s simply not a very “British” thing to do. Farmers are more likely to use food rather than fury.

How are Labour politicians responding to this furore? They say the changes would not affect many farmers (BBC Verify has found about 500 estates per year are likely to be affected). And why shouldn’t farmers pay inheritance tax? They are, after all, paying less than others.

Sir Keir has highlighted his childhood growing up in the countryside and says the government will invest in other areas which affect rural communities, such as hospitals, schools and housing.