An Isle of Wight farmer has explained his reasons for protesting against the government's tax measure.

Luke Flux, of Skinners Farm in Northwood, travelled to London with a group of Isle of Wight farmers yesterday (Tuesday, November 19).

Farmers are protesting against the government's decision to charge inheritance tax at the rate of 20 per cent on farmland worth over £1m, starting in April 2026.

Farmers across the UK are calling for the decision to be reversed, with a group of around 12 farmers from the Island attending the rally at Whitehall.

Luke said: "We're losing farmland to lifestyle people and investors. We're seeing that happen quickly on the Isle of Wight.

"We're probably ten years ahead of the rest of the country."

He added: "We have assets that no one will see the full value of. We're not making enough to pay this inheritance tax.

"In the countryside, £1m doesn't get you very far: we have buildings, machinery and cattle without the land."

Luke said that the measure may see the end of most family farms, expressing that the measure is the "final nail in the coffin".

He said that many farms have had to diversify into holiday lets and other ventures to keep afloat.

He said: "I work several jobs to earn enough for our main, and we've diversified to bring money in. There's no more money to be made."

Luke, alongside several other farmers, attended the rally on Whitehall which ran alongside the National Farmers' Union's (NFU) mass lobbying. 

He hopes that the government reconsider their decision by raising the threshold.

He believes it will affect the majority of family farms, and have a knock-on impact on tariffs, the countryside and his kids.

He said: "We are the ones that cannot afford this tax. We've been ambushed rather than consulted. 

"I've got to do this for the future of my two little boys."