Morrisons takes legal action to stop farmers' protests

20 January 2025, 13:15 | Updated: 20 January 2025, 14:16

Supermarket chain Morrisons has taken out a High Court injunction preventing anyone from protesting at its sites - amid what it calls a "serious threat" of further action.

It comes after dozens of farmers angry at inheritance tax reforms and food prices used tractors to block roads outside the chain's distribution depot in Bridgewater, Somerset, on 10 January.

Just a day later, Morrisons's head of agriculture, Sophie Throup, released a video on social media saying the supermarket supported British farming and shared concerns over the government's controversial tax changes.

Morrisons said it was taking the action to "protect" its business and the "integrity of the food supply chain".

In a statement, the company insisted it still backed British farmers.

A spokesperson said: "Given the protests experienced recently and the serious threat of immediate further action, we've had to take the difficult decision to seek a High Court injunction to restrain unlawful protest action aimed at preventing us from operating from our sites referenced in the injunction order.

"However, please know that we remain committed to continuing to work with all our farming network on the issues that matter most to you."