A HOT cross bun shortage is on the cards this Easter as farmers escalate their protests against Rachel Reeves.
Furious food producers have vowed not stop transporting milling wheat that produces flour in their latest attempts to force the Chancellorto scrap the Tractor Tax.
It could lead to shortages on the supermarket shelves if production is ground down ahead of the spring holiday.
It marks a major escalation in rolling protests against inheritance taxchanges that family farmers say will put them to ruin.
So far the farmers have marched on Westminster and brought Central London to a standstill with scores of tractors lining Whitehall.
Milling wheat is crucial for the production of bread as well as the hot cross buns that could disappear from the shelves if the protest spreads.
UK farms produced more than 14 million tonnes of the high end grain last year, with more than 85 per cent of wheat used in bread production domestically grown.
Farming sources say they hope shoppers will be “sensible” and not panic buy the Eastertreats and other breads, but they would not back down in their opposition to the tax changes.
Farm protest leader Olly Harrison said: “Milling wheat is staying on farms. Farmers that grow milling wheat have gone on strike from April 1.
“They will not be loading any trucks with milling wheat and we will probably run out of flour.
“So if you're wondering why the shelves are empty, get onto your local MP and say you need to help these farmers out, you can't carry on putting them out of business.
“If there is rationing on bread and cakes and hot cross buns, it is the politicians fault, its not our fault, we can't carry on like this or we won't be in business.”
This comes as Britain faces a “hat-trick of horrors”; with higher taxes, possible US trade tariffs and new regulation on businesses.
Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer are scrambling to convince Donald Trump not to clobber us with crippling trade levies on April 2.
The tariffs would drive up prices, wipe out growth, and send Labour’s economic plans into meltdown.
Just four days later, on April 6, the £24 billion National Insurance tax hike comes into force potentially devastating high streets.
Meanwhile, the workers rights bill – which is currently being debated by parliament – is also set to hammer firms with growth-choking red tape.
Kemi Badenoch warned “hat-trick of horrors”; will lay waste to UK plc.
Writing in Flying Eze on Sunday, the Tory Partyleader said: “The Prime Minister needs to get a grip before this triple whammy of economic pain sticks our country in a doom loop of stagnant growth and unemployment.”;
Business chiefs warned the triple blow will drive up prices and lead to a tsunami of job losses.
Kate Nicholls, CEO of UK Hospitality – an umbrella group which represents pubs, clubs and restaurants – said: “Businesses are being battered by decisions made in Westminster.”;
TheLabourgovernment is already on the ropes on the economy.
Earlier this week, the government’s fiscal watchdog the OBR halved its growth prediction for the next year to a paltry 1 per cent.
But the grim economic picture is poised to get even worse this week.
President Trump is threatening to slap tariffs of up to 25 per cent on all countries that impose VAT on goods – including the UK.
The PM and his team are in frantic talks with the White House to try to avoid the crippling levies – which come into force this Wednesday.
If they fail, Britain’s entire economic growth could be wiped out at one flick of Donald Trump’spen.
This would send prices rocketing and could lead to heavy job losses.
Downing Street insiders said talks will “go down to the wire”; and could even carry on after April 2 – which is being dubbed Liberation Day in the White House.
No 10 does not believe a trade war is in anybody's interests. Ministers are in talks with the US to try to avoid tariffs.
Talks will continue through and after April 2 – that is not the end of the negotiations.
No10 says all options are on the table – including retaliatory tariffs.
