Labour promised to back the countryside. Instead, it’s taxing it, trimming it, and turning its back on it.
I recently had the rather unusual privilege of herding sheep across Southwark Bridge. As a Freeman of the City of London, it was an honour to take part in one of the Square Mile’s most distinctive traditions, the annual Sheep Drive.
The Freedom of the City dates back more than eight centuries. Among its ancient rights was the ability to bring sheep into the City without paying tolls. Today, that tradition lives on not only as a spectacle but as a celebration of civic heritage, and as a way to raise funds for the Woolmen’s Charity and the Lord Mayor’s Appeal.
Driving those sheep across the bridge was enormous fun, but it was also a reminder of something deeper. It spoke of connection, community and continuity, of the ties between the city and the countryside that have shaped this nation for centuries. Yet as I looked out across the Thames, I could not help thinking how fragile that connection has become.
While London celebrates a symbolic flock for charity, farmers across Britain are struggling to stay afloat. Despite the rhetoric about supporting rural communities, the new Labour government’s early decisions have left many in the sector feeling neglected and uncertain about their future.
The most immediate concern has been the upheaval around the Sustainable Farming Incentive, the key scheme meant to reward farmers for managing land sustainably. Earlier this year, the government closed new applications, saying the annual funding cap had been reached. Existing agreements continue, but the sudden halt has left many farmers unable to plan for the year ahead. Ministers say the scheme will be redesigned, yet the lack of clarity has caused deep frustration.
At the same time, the 2025 Spending Review removed around £100 million a year from certain farming and countryside programmes in England. The overall budget headline remains similar, but with high inflation and soaring costs, that still means a real-terms reduction in support. The National Farmers’ Union has warned that farmers are being asked to “do more with less”, a polite way of saying confidence is ebbing away.
Then there is the matter of inheritance tax reform. From April 2026, new rules will apply a 20 per cent tax to inherited agricultural assets above £1 million, through changes to Agricultural and Business Property Relief. The government presents this as a question of fairness. For many family farms, it feels like a punishment for continuity. Parents who have spent a lifetime building up a holding now face the prospect of their children being forced to sell parts of it just to pay the bill.
These issues come at a time when farming incomes in England have already fallen sharply, down nearly 20 per cent last year due to flooding, poor yields and rising input costs. For many in the countryside, the combination of less certainty, tighter budgets and looming tax changes feels like a perfect storm.
It is easy from Westminster or the City to treat farming as something quaint and peripheral, a picturesque backdrop rather than an essential industry. Yet it underpins our food security, our landscapes, our rural jobs and much of our national identity. When farmers struggle, the consequences ripple far beyond the farm gate.
That thought stayed with me as the sheep made their steady way over Southwark Bridge. Centuries ago, that crossing linked London’s markets with the fields beyond. It stood for the interdependence of urban and rural life. Today, that bond is at risk of being forgotten.
If we want a thriving countryside, we need government to treat farming as essential national infrastructure, not a line in the budget to be trimmed. Farmers are not asking for favours. They want fair, stable policies that allow them to plan, invest and pass their land on to the next generation. Food does not grow on ideology, and rural Britain cannot run on uncertainty.
The Sheep Drive is a joyful occasion, steeped in history and good humour. It reminds us of where our food and wealth once came from, and of the enduring ties between London and the land that feeds it. But sentiment alone will not sustain the people who work that land.
London may still celebrate its right to drive sheep across a bridge, yet beyond the city lights many farms are struggling to survive. If we want to keep that bridge between town and country strong, the government must start treating farmers not as relics of the past but as vital custodians of our future.
About Matthew J. Bridger
Matthew J. Bridger is an award-winning entrepreneur, media figure, and campaigner, known for his innovative work in business, social impact, and community service. At just 25, he has already made significant strides across various sectors, including entrepreneurship, media, politics, and philanthropy.
His achievements have been recognised with multiple awards including being named as the UK Prime Minister’s 2241st Points of Light Award Recipient under Rishi Sunak.
He currently holds the positions of Councillor for Kennington Ward and Vice Chairman on Kennington Community Council and is Chairman of the Ashford Conservative Association.
Matthew has in the past served as a Campaign Manager for the Conservative Party to 4 MPs and 3 Conservative Associations and has also worked as a Senior Communications Advisor to a Member of Parliament.
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