Shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins writes for the Eastern Daily Press about what she witnessed at last week's farmers' protest in London

As I stood among the thousands of farmers who headed to Westminster last week, I felt contrasting emotions.

In many ways it was great to see such unity among so many people from across all parts of the country, including Norfolk, who came to have their voices heard.

It was a real show of strength and togetherness.

But the overriding feelings, ones which were shared by some many people I spoke to, were of anger, anguish and anxiety.

Anger that they have had to travel to London to try to get the Labour government to listen to them. And anguish and anxiety about what comes next, if Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves continue to ignore their voices.

Shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins. Picture: James ManningThis is what Labour and their unfair Family Farm Tax has done. Yes, it has brought communities together but for all the wrong reasons.

It is because Labour have broken their promises to farmers and betrayed them with this tax, which will bring devastation to farming across rural counties like Norfolk where it has been the lifeblood of the economy for generations.

This is a political choice to target family farms, but the consequences will be felt, not just by the farmers they have let down, but by families across the country paying higher prices for food.

If family farms are split up and sold off, there is no guarantee that the land will continue to be used to grow food. 

It is clear Labour and most of their MPs don’t understand the countryside and worse, it seems they don’t care about it either.

As Shadow Environment Secretary and MP for a rural constituency in Lincolnshire, I understand what farming means and brings to communities.

Some Labour MPs are showing signs of starting to understand.

Last week, the EDP reported about South West Norfolk MP Terry Jermy’s "concerns" about the family farm tax.

It is why Conservative MPs and the Conservative Party as a whole will continue to fight against this unjust tax.

We will be an effective opposition and stand up for farmers and the countryside.

Our new leader, Kemi Badenoch, has said we will reverse this unfair tax.

We have launched a petition at StopTheFarmTax.com to keep up the pressure on the Government to persuade them to change their minds.

I would urge people to sign the petition so Labour really can see the strength of feelings if they hadn’t picked up enough in Westminster last Tuesday.

We will do all we can to help reverse this decision and save these farms.

Once these farms in Norfolk are gone, they are gone – and we will all feel the consequences a long time after this Labour Government is removed from office.