Details have been revealed for the splinter rally set to take place on November 19, protesting the autumn budget and its potential ramifications on family farms and businesses.
Organisers are appealing for widespread support from those within and outside the farming sector as concerns mount over the budget’s long-term effects on rural economies and small-scale enterprises.
With the suspected number of attendees expected to increase day-on-day it has been decided that Trafalgar Square does not have the capacity therefore the event has been relocated to Richmond Terrace on Whitehall. This decision will ensure all participants can hear from speakers while ensuring crowd safety.
The secondary event has been organised by a group of independent farmers, including Clive Bailye, Olly Harrison, Martin Williams, Andrew Ward and James Mills.
Those coming to the event are being asked to gather at Richmond Terrace from 11am.
The rally will see speakers from across the agricultural world come together with television personal and politicians to voice their support for family farms and rural businesses before the crowd proceeds to Parliament Square.
The procession will be led by a group of young children on toy tractors, a symbolic move to highlight the importance of addressing this issue before it greatly impacts their future. The march will then return to Richmond Terrace for a final address by NFU president, Tom Bradshaw, following the lobby of MPs at Church Hall, Westminster.
Those attending the event are invited to wear their work boots and wellies to signify participation and to bring British produce for a mass donation to London’s food banks. The produce will be spread across four drop-off locations to avoid congestion before being distributed by City Harvest.
The organisers have urged those participating to put their best welly forward when representing the farming industry and to ensure the rally locations are well treated.
They have also requested that protestors should not bring farm machinery with them.
For attendees making their way to London by train, the nearest tube station is Westminster.
For attendees making their way by coach, Westminster Council has asked that all drop offs are done within the bounds of normal traffic laws and that coaches park in the designated bays across the Westminster Borough.
A list of bays is provided below.
• Bishop’s Bridge Road W2 (two bays)
• Eastbourne Terrace W2 (four bays)
• Kingsway WC2 (16 bays)
• Millbank SW1 (five bays)
• Park Lane SW1 (17 bays)
• Temple Place WC2 (two bays)
• Tothill Street SW1 (six bays)
• Victoria Embankment SW1 (12 bays)
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here