The Metropolitan Police are facing fresh accusations of “two-tier” policing after it was revealed Scotland Yard clamped down on a new farmers' protest.
Farmers had planned to protest the Family Farm Tax outside Downing Street on Wednesday while Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her Budget before the force took action.
It is understood the decision to muzzle the protest originated from "someone very high up", leaving organisers stunned, the Daily Express reported.
They have now discovered that the demonstration, originally envisaged as a mass show of opinion, has now been “reduced to a pavement”.
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One organiser accused the Met of “two-tier policing”, calling the latest move a “PR disaster” for the force.
The peaceful protest is understood to have been planned for weeks, with organisers in close contact with the Met.
Announcing the decision, Scotland Yard said: “We have had a number of conversations with the protest organisers to safely manage the event.”
“While people will still be able to demonstrate, conditions have been put in place to prevent protesters from bringing vehicles, including tractors or other agricultural vehicles to the protest.
The Met Police has clamped down on a planned farmers protest in London
|GETTY
“This decision was taken due to the serious disruption they may cause to the local area, including businesses, emergency services and Londoners going about their day.
While stressing that the protest had not been banned, Scotland Yard added: “Any person taking part in the farmers protest must remain in Richmond Terrace, Whitehall"
Reacting to the news, Berkshire Farmers Group described the move as an “appalling approach to protesting rights”.
“Despite their weeks of unquestionable support and productive meetings, Dr Alison Heydari, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has decided to withdraw consent at the 11th hour due to pressure from the so-called ‘external stakeholders’ regarding risk of ‘disruption to the life of the community,’” they said.
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The Met said: 'This decision was taken due to the serious disruption they may cause to the local area, including businesses, emergency services and Londoners going about their day'
|GETTY
Regarding the ban on vehicles at the demonstration, the group said: “Imposing these conditions on a protest with this short of a notice is in our opinions a malicious approach to preventing our right to protest, leaving little time for appeal or for facilitating their requests.”
As a result, Berkshire Farmers Group have decided to cancel the protest.
“We, Berkshire Farmers Group and all associated organisers including but not limited to George Brown, Dan Willis and Caroline Graham, wish to inform all attendees that this protest has been cancelled by Dr Alison Heydari of the Metropolitan Police, and we absolve ourselves of all responsibilities for any attendance to this event.
Clive Bailye, a farmer who was set to attend, said Scotland Yard’s decision was “extremely disappointing”.
He argued Britain’s arable workers were being “denied their right to protest and reiterate the fatal damage Rachel Reeves' Family Farm Tax is causing to an entire industry and the rural economy”.
The farmer believed it was an example of “two-tier policing by the Met and very politically motivated”, while speaking with The Express.
Britain's farmers have been gathering for the past year to protest the Family Farm Tax.
The levy is set to scrap some exemptions on inheritance tax for family farms, leaving some fearing the end of family-run agriculture across the country.
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