The #WeJustWantToFeedYou rally on Tuesday 19th November, triggered by the budget and proposed tax changes impacting family farms, has rightly dominated headlines.
Photo story
In a heartwarming and creative twist, the protest featured a group of children leading the charge on pedal tractors. For me, it was a no-brainer to sign up my four-year-old son, Henry, who already shows early signs of being a fifth-generation farmer. The idea was to highlight exactly who these proposed changes will impact most: the next generation.
As the event swelled with thousands of attendees gathering outside number 10, logistical adjustments had to be made. The children and their tractors were relocated to Parliament Square for an impromptu photo opportunity and a light-hearted race with one cheeky brief: “Run down the photographers!”
The unexpected power of ‘Plan B’
The results were extraordinary. While the organisers of the photo story #PedallingForOurFuture initially envisioned the children leading the march as the defining image of the day, the new plan surpassed expectations. The resulting photos, adorable yet poignant, capture the heart of the issue in a way words never could. And these images have since been featured in every news story I’ve seen reporting the day.
They capture the essence of the rally – this is about the future. It’s about preserving the livelihoods of family farmers who simply want to feed the nation. The pictures, showcasing wide-eyed children on their tractors surrounded by the vastness of Parliament Square, tell a compelling story of generational impact and resilience.
A united front for family farms
Standing shoulder to shoulder with my mum, mother-in-law, sister, and nieces, representing two family farms, I felt proud to be there. This was more than a rally; it was a statement of unity, determination, and love for an industry that is the backbone of our food supply chain. Over 15,000 farmers and supporters from every corner of the country turned up, proving the stakes are too high to ignore.
This issue is complex, emotive, and, at times, deeply uncomfortable. But the passion and sheer numbers of those who attended speak volumes. These changes have the power to alter the fabric of rural life, and the farming community is sending a clear message: this fight is for their future.
Let the pictures speak
A picture says a thousand words, and the images of the children on their tractors has done just that. They have humanised the issue, showcased the stakes, and drawn attention to the wide reaching, generational impact of these proposed changes. The children in those photos are the reason we fight. They are the reason we showed up.
To the policy makers: please see those thousand words. They matter.
