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Are conspiracy groups trying to hijack farmers' protests?
After major protests across the UK at the end of last year, anger from farmers at tax changes shows no sign of abating.
The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has planned a nationwide day of action for 25 January. In Scotland this is set to include "coordinated tractor rallies" across the country.
While the protests have focused on tax and other pressures faced by the farming industry, there are concerns that some groups are attempting to capitalise on the farmers' cause to peddle conspiracy theories and misinformation.
Ferret Fact Service explains.
Farmers are angry at changes to inheritance tax announced by the Labour government in October. Thousands marched on London in November 2024 to protest the policy, which some view as the "last straw" after a series of decisions by governments which have been unpopular with farmers.
From April 2026, farms will no longer be eligible for full relief from inheritance tax. Instead, full relief will only apply to the first £1m of assets passed down.
Anything over £1m will be charged inheritance tax at 20 per cent - half the usual inheritance tax - although some additional relief could be available, particularly for married couples.
Many farmers claim that their businesses do not generate enough money to pay inheritance tax bills due to a range of factors including rising costs and cuts to subsidies.
The NFU argues the only option for many farmers would be to sell their farms to afford tax bills which could, it claims, impact the amount of food the UK produces.
The government has countered that most farms won't pay inheritance tax - a claim the NFU rejects - and that money raised by the changes is needed to pay for public services.
The policy has also been described by some experts as an attempt to stop wealthy people from buying up farmland to avoid paying inheritance tax.
'No Farmers, No Food'
One group which has gained traction in farming debates in the last year is No Farmers, No Food.
It has garnered over 130,000 followers on social media, more than the NFU itself, and its yellow logo is increasingly spotted both online and at protests. Scottish politicians have shared No Farmers, No Food posts on social media and the Tories' agriculture spokesperson, Jamie Halcro Johnston, has appeared wearing one of its badges outside the Scottish Parliament.
No Farmers, No Food was founded by PR expert and GB News regular, James Melville.
Melville - who has over half a million followers on X - says he grew up on a family farm in Fife and started the group to provide a "unified and non-partisan campaign" for farmers.
Yet on his personal accounts he has posted and shared misinformation including around conspiracy topics like 15 minute cities, the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the 'Great Reset', as well as the extent of deaths from Covid-19.
What are 15 minute cities and why are they controversial?
Melville has called net zero policies to limit climate change a "con" aimed at making money for corporations.
While No Farmers, No Food has largely focused on the impacts of the inheritance tax in recent months, its mission statement published in February 2024 took aim at net zero.
"The government's obsession with net zero is having a devastating impact on British farming," the group claimed in a statement that said one of its objectives was to "push back against unrealistic net zero policies". The campaign has also argued that farming is being "sacrificed on the altar of net zero".
Posts by the group on social media also attract comments from conspiracy theorists. One farmer has described being added to a campaign WhatsApp chat after an invite by Melville. He claimed the group was "toxic" with members "fighting amongst each other" about Covid-19 vaccines and discussing "uprisings" against the WEF.
Despite outlining plans for one nearly a year ago, No Farmers, No Food has no website. A limited company which names Melville and two others as directors was set up in April last year but is yet to file any accoun...
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After major protests across the UK at the end of last year, anger from farmers at tax changes shows no sign of abating.
The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has planned a nationwide day of action for 25 January. In Scotland this is set to include "coordinated tractor rallies" across the country.
While the protests have focused on tax and other pressures faced by the farming industry, there are concerns that some groups are attempting to capitalise on the farmers' cause to peddle conspiracy theories and misinformation.
Ferret Fact Service explains.
Farmers are angry at changes to inheritance tax announced by the Labour government in October. Thousands marched on London in November 2024 to protest the policy, which some view as the "last straw" after a series of decisions by governments which have been unpopular with farmers.
From April 2026, farms will no longer be eligible for full relief from inheritance tax. Instead, full relief will only apply to the first £1m of assets passed down.
Anything over £1m will be charged inheritance tax at 20 per cent - half the usual inheritance tax - although some additional relief could be available, particularly for married couples.
Many farmers claim that their businesses do not generate enough money to pay inheritance tax bills due to a range of factors including rising costs and cuts to subsidies.
The NFU argues the only option for many farmers would be to sell their farms to afford tax bills which could, it claims, impact the amount of food the UK produces.
The government has countered that most farms won't pay inheritance tax - a claim the NFU rejects - and that money raised by the changes is needed to pay for public services.
The policy has also been described by some experts as an attempt to stop wealthy people from buying up farmland to avoid paying inheritance tax.
'No Farmers, No Food'
One group which has gained traction in farming debates in the last year is No Farmers, No Food.
It has garnered over 130,000 followers on social media, more than the NFU itself, and its yellow logo is increasingly spotted both online and at protests. Scottish politicians have shared No Farmers, No Food posts on social media and the Tories' agriculture spokesperson, Jamie Halcro Johnston, has appeared wearing one of its badges outside the Scottish Parliament.
No Farmers, No Food was founded by PR expert and GB News regular, James Melville.
Melville - who has over half a million followers on X - says he grew up on a family farm in Fife and started the group to provide a "unified and non-partisan campaign" for farmers.
Yet on his personal accounts he has posted and shared misinformation including around conspiracy topics like 15 minute cities, the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the 'Great Reset', as well as the extent of deaths from Covid-19.
What are 15 minute cities and why are they controversial?
Melville has called net zero policies to limit climate change a "con" aimed at making money for corporations.
While No Farmers, No Food has largely focused on the impacts of the inheritance tax in recent months, its mission statement published in February 2024 took aim at net zero.
"The government's obsession with net zero is having a devastating impact on British farming," the group claimed in a statement that said one of its objectives was to "push back against unrealistic net zero policies". The campaign has also argued that farming is being "sacrificed on the altar of net zero".
Posts by the group on social media also attract comments from conspiracy theorists. One farmer has described being added to a campaign WhatsApp chat after an invite by Melville. He claimed the group was "toxic" with members "fighting amongst each other" about Covid-19 vaccines and discussing "uprisings" against the WEF.
Despite outlining plans for one nearly a year ago, No Farmers, No Food has no website. A limited company which names Melville and two others as directors was set up in April last year but is yet to file any accoun...