‘Cowardly’ PM Keir Starmer dodges livid farmer protesters and their convoy of tractors on the Welsh Labour celebration convention in Llandudno as fury grows over the federal government’s inheritance tax raid on farms

Sir Keir Starmer was branded ‘cowardly’ as he dodged scores of farmers protesting in drizzle and cold outside a venue for a a Welsh Labour conference about his Government’s Budget.

The Prime Minister told the Welsh Labour conference at Llandudno’s Venue Cymru he would defend the Budget ‘all day long’ as farmers protested against inheritance tax changes.

In his first address as Prime Minister to the conference this morning, Sir Keir praised the election of 27 MPs in July, making Wales a ‘Tory-free zone’.

As he spoke, farmers unhappy with the changes to inheritance tax unveiled in Rachel Reeves’ first Budget gathered with tractors outside the conference venue in protest.

His convoy left the venue through a back gate, with a police escort, to boos from a small number of demonstrators.

Other farmers, angry at planned inheritance tax changes, hooted their tractor horns on the promenade, to try and ensure politicians heard them inside the building.

There were chants of ‘save our farms’ – as the agricultural industry signalled Labour’s budget proposals face a tough battle.

Protest organisers Digon yw Digon – which translates as Enough in Enough – said: ‘Our Government isn’t working or listening to us’.

High-profile farmer Gareth Wyn Jones said: ‘He’s run home. He didn’t have the courtesy to come out and speak to anybody. He hasn’t even mentioned anything about farming in the speech.

‘It’s a cowardly thing to do. These people have come away from their farms to be here. It’s really disappointing he didn’t have the balls to come out.’

A woman protester passed by Sir Keir’s convoy said: ‘He sneaked in the back way. He can’t face up to people who voted him in. I come from a farming family.

‘I never thought I would see the day our farmers were provoked into having to come and make a point.

‘What politicians don’t understand is if there’s no wheat grown, then there’s no bread.’

Placards declared there was ‘blood on Labour hands’ and ‘enough is enough.’ and ‘Labour war on countryside.’

A Snowdonia farmer who wouldn’t be named said the budget plans would have ‘a hell of an impact.’ 

He said :’People are in debt as it is. Our impression is Labour hates farmers.’

The farmer warned: ‘There will be more empty shelves if things go the way they are.’

A row has erupted over the new taxes for farms worth more than £1 million, exacerbated by uncertainty about the figures Ms Reeves based the decision on.

Treasury data shows that around three-quarters of farmers will pay nothing in inheritance tax as a result of the controversial changes announced in the Budget last month.

However, farmers have challenged the figures, pointing instead to data from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs which suggests 66% of farm businesses are worth more than the £1 million threshold at which inheritance tax will now need to be paid.

Sir Keir did not mention the inheritance tax explicitly in his speech, but said he would defend the ‘tough decisions’ his Government has made.

‘Make no mistake, I will defend our decisions in the Budget all day long, adding: ‘I will defend facing up to the harsh light of fiscal reality.

‘I will defend the tough decisions that would necessary to stabilise our economy and I will defend protecting the pay slips of working people, fixing the foundations of our economy and investing in the future of Britain and the future of Wales, finally turning the page on austerity once and for all.’

He also hailed the ‘record figure’ of £21 billion allocated to Wales in the Budget.

Labour won 27 out of 32 Parliamentary seats in Wales in the general election, wiping out the Conservatives, who now have no MPs in Wales.

Sir Keir said Wales has ‘carried the torch’ for the Labour Party while Conservatives were in power in Westminster.

‘We are ready for a new era. Labour Wales and Labour Britain pulling in the same direction, the full force of our nation once again serving the people of Wales.’

The Government also announced £13 million of funding to help steelworkers affected by job losses in Port Talbot, including to set up their own businesses.

It will go to workers, families and businesses affected by the closure of the blast furnaces at the giant Tata Steel site.

Welsh First Minster Eluned Morgan, who took over as the leader of Welsh Labour in August, will announce during the party conference £22 million to tackle NHS waiting lists in Wales, in addition to £28 million already pledged.     

Earlier this year former Welsh Labour First Minister Mark Drakeford also faced the wrath of farmers at Rhyl – and avoiding speaking to them too – because of opposition to a post-Brexit farm subsidy scheme.

At Llandudno there were also a handful of demonstrators worried about the situation in Gaza and one pensioner angry at the winter fuel allowance axe. A police drone kept watch above the sea.