In the days following his criticism of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) for canceling their planned protest in London, Jeremy Clarkson has launched a fresh tirade against the government’s new inheritance tax measures affecting farmers. The changes, introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in Labour’s Budget at the end of October, have been met with widespread dissent across the agricultural community, with Clarkson emerging as a vocal opponent.
Initially, the NFU had planned a demonstration in London on November 19 to oppose these measures. However, members were informed that the protest could not proceed due to “legal reasons.” Clarkson, known for his outspoken views, expressed his dismay at the cancellation, suggesting that protests related to other causes might not face the same restrictions.
In his Sun newspaper column, Clarkson declared his intent to support an independent farmers’ protest, criticising both Reeves and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Clarkson argued that the new inheritance tax measures should have targeted wealthy landowners rather than all farmers. He dismissed Reeves’s claim that 73 percent of farms would remain unaffected as “nonsense.”
Sharing an anecdote from earlier this week, Clarkson described meeting a farmer whose cattle alone exceeded the £1 million threshold, excluding land assets. Such valuations could force farmers’ children to sell their farms to cover tax obligations, potentially leading to farmland being bought by non-farmers.
“The truth is, there are no farmers who are happy with what Reeves and her politburo have done,” Clarkson stated. He warned of adverse effects on the countryside and food costs, attributing Labour Party members’ acceptance of the changes to their urban lifestyles.
Clarkson speculated on future developments under a Labour government, suggesting a “sinister plan” to replace farmers.
“I’m becoming more and more convinced that Starmer and Reeves have a sinister plan. They want to carpet bomb our farmland with new towns for immigrants and net zero windfarms. But before they can do that, they have to ethnically cleanse the countryside of farmers.That’s why they had a Budget which makes farming nigh on impossible,” he asserted, vowing to join the protest on November 19.
The TV personality’s discontent was echoed by his Clarkson’s Farm co-star, Kaleb Cooper, who also criticized the Budget on social media. Clarkson engaged with critics on social media, defending his stance and questioning the implementation of the tax.
As of now, the government has not publicly addressed the independent farmers’ planned protest later this month. Clarkson’s comments continue to stoke debate over the impact of the inheritance tax measures on the farming community.
