Transport for London have banned an advert from a farmers union, having previously allowed ads supporting assisted dying.
Sadiq Khan has come under fire for a decision to ban an advert from farmers on the Tube (Image: Getty )
Transport bosses in London has been accused of “making no sense” after ordering a ban on an anti-inheritance tax adverts they have deemed “politically controversial” when just weeks ago they allowed adverts supporting assisted dying to run before a major vote in the Commons.
The National Farmers Union (NFU) had been due to spend £40,000 on posters around Westminster station with a “Stop The Family Farm Tax” campaign to hopefully keep the issue in the minds of MPs when they return to Parliament on January 6.
But Transport for London (TfL), who report to Labour London Mayor Sadiq Khan, have banned the ads.
It follows huge protests from farmers with tractors rolling in to Whitehall after Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves introduced a new inheritance tax bombshell on farms worth over £1 million.
Previously farms were exempt from inheritance tax, but under the new rules from April 2026 families will be hit with a 20 percent levy, a cost unions and farming groups say will mean many families will no longer be able to be pass down farms to younger generations.
Labour’s raid on farming has been hugely controversial with widespread opposition from the Conservatives and Reform UK. Just like the debate on assisted dying bill in November, there has been lively discussion across Parliament.
Farmers have been hit hard by Labour’s change to rules on inheritance tax (Image: Getty )
But campaigners Dignity in Dying were allowed by TfL to run adverts on the network about the politically sensitive issue before a vote was due to take place in the Commons.
TfL said the adverts were compliant with its advertising policy.
TfL have also in the past approved ads by animal welfare groups calling on the Government to ban live animal exports, and approved an advert showing an showing an Islamic preacher holding a briefcase full of burning US dollars.
According to the Mail Online, TfL bosses, who are overseen by Labour London Mayor Sadiq Khan, claim the NFU adverts need to be watered down to remove any attacks on the Government.
Victoria Atkins, Tory rural affairs spokesman, told the Mail “Labour know they’re in the wrong” and that they were “trying to silence those who are pointing this out to their MPs”.
She said: ‘It may be news to the Labour mayor but Londoners and commuters eat food. They will be hit by higher food prices and weakened food security once Labour’s Family Farm Tax and National Insurance hikes take their toll on British farms.”
Sadiq Khan has been criticised for the decision to ban the advert (Image: Getty )
A spokesman for the NFU said: “We were surprised and disappointed that TfL refused to allow us to advertise this campaign on behalf of Britain’s farmers, especially given all the campaigns from other groups they have allowed.
“It makes no sense, even within their own rules.”
TfL said it had not allowed the advert because it “contains imagery and illustrations which are politically controversial” and “promotes a party political cause or electioneering”.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “TfL has become totally politicised under mayor Khan. Our rural communities are being treated as second-class citizens by the London elites.”
TfL said: “This advertising campaign was reviewed against TfL’s advertising policy and was found not to be compliant.”
Mr Khan’s spokesman said: “The mayor has no involvement in approving or deciding which ads run on the TfL network, and TfL’s policy reflects legal requirements.”
