Farmers told to ‘leave tractors at home’ or face arrest as thousands to protest against Rachel Reeves’s tax raid

Metropolitan Police have warned farmers planning to protest in central London to leave their tractors at home or face arrest.

The force has imposed conditions under the Public Order Act ahead of the demonstration on Tuesday.

The warning follows disruption caused by farming vehicles at a previous protest, when Whitehall was blocked “for much of the day”.

Only a limited number of tractors arranged by organisers with prior police permission will be allowed at the event.

Anyone breaching these conditions has been told they may face arrest.

The protest will begin gathering at Whitehall from 11am on Tuesday with a procession scheduled to start around midday, heading towards Trafalgar Square.

Demonstrators will then turn right into Northumberland Avenue and continue along the Embankment.

The route will return to Whitehall via Westminster Bridge Road and Parliament Street.

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A rally is then scheduled to take place in Whitehall from 1.30-3pm

The Met has imposed conditions under the Public Order Act to prevent disruption similar to a previous farmers’ protest in which a “significant number of people” attended with tractors and large farming vehicles.

Whitehall was blocked for much of the day during the previous rally and caused “lengthy significant delays on surrounding roads”.

Police said it is their responsibility to ensure protests don’t cause serious disruption to the life of the community.

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The force has been in “regular contact” with protest organisers to explain their decision-making.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ben Russell, who is commanding the policing operation, said: “Two previous protests have taken place in the same area, with the same organisers, in recent months.

“The second protest saw a significant number of people attend with tractors and other large farming vehicles. Whitehall was blocked for much of the day and there were lengthy significant delays on surrounding roads.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that protests don’t cause serious disruption to the life of the community and we’ve used our powers under the Public Order Act to ensure that does not happen on Tuesday.”

Police confirmed the conditions imposed under the Public Order Act are as follows:

Section 14(3) Public Order Act

Individuals taking part in the Farmers Protest assembly must not drive, or otherwise use, mechanically propelled vehicles without having obtained authority, in advance, from the Metropolitan Police.

Section 12(3) Public Order Act

Individuals taking part in the Farmers Protest procession must not drive, or otherwise use, mechanically propelled vehicles without obtained authority, in advance, from the Metropolitan Police.

The Met has warned that breaching these conditions is a criminal offence.

Anyone who violates the conditions or incites others to do so may face arrest.