Jeremy Clarkson will rally with other farmers on 19th November
11th November 2024
Jeremy Clarkson will join other farmers at the rally in London on 19th November to protest against changes to the inheritance tax.
According to The Telegraph, the star of Clarkson’s Farm will attend the independent rally next week. However, it has not been confirmed yet whether he will give a speech.
When asked on X by his followers why Mr Clarkson would not want to lead the independent rally, he said: ‘I wish it were that simple. The problem is that I’m not a family farmer and those who support Starmer will point this out. Which means that any points scored will be lost in a blizzard of class war shoutiness. Much better to find a third generation farmer to be the front man. Volunteers?’
At the end of last week, Olly Harrison, known for his YouTube channel Olly Blogs Agricontract, revealed plans to organise an official farming demonstration combined with the biggest food bank donation in Britain in a single day.
The organisers said that the rally will “help deliver a strong and clear message to the government while in the heart of London, that family farms and the rural community stand united against the government’s catastrophic Budget”.
Independent rally
The independently coordinated rally is a separate event from NFU’s mass lobby that will take place in Church House conference centre at Westminster.
Last week, NFU asked farmers who did not book a space for the meeting with MPs to stay at home and not go to London on 19th November.
He told The Sun: “We wanted to protest in a dignified and sensible way, which was why I had booked the coach rather than causing disruption with tractors and farming vehicles.
“I am in a fortunate position, but I feel desperately sorry for other farmers who are very angry and anxious about the future.
“The NFU have said officially they don’t want to disrupt people’s lives, but I have it on very good authority they have been told to do this.”
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‘Treasury got its figures wrong’
The Treasury has said 73% of APR claims are below £1 million and so would be unaffected by this policy. However, Defra’s figures show that only 34% of farms are under £1 million net worth.
The Treasury’s figures are based on past APR claims and do not consider farms that have also claimed BPR for diversified aspects of their businesses.
They also include a substantial number of smallholdings, with 27% of those Treasury figures being for assets under £250,000, and another 23% under £500,000.
Very few viable farms are worth under £1 million. That could buy 50 acres and a house today. No viable food-producing business is 50 acres. The average farm in the UK is more than 250 acres, , NFU confirmed.
Speaking about the meeting, Mr Bradshaw said: “I’ve spoken to a huge number of our members in the past few days and heard some really upsetting accounts of what this tax would do to family farms.
“I’ve heard about distressed elderly parents who are having to apologise to their children in tears for something that isn’t their fault, telling them they’re sorry because they feel they’re now a burden on the family.
“I’ve heard from families who can’t see any way they can plan for a future, which doesn’t result in losing their business. Men and women who’ve spent years building up farm businesses now wondering what’s the point in carrying on when it’s going to be ripped apart.
“These are the working people of the countryside, and I made it clear to Defra and the Treasury today that there has been a clear miscalculation of the impact this will have on them. The Treasury has got its figures wrong. This policy won’t protect family farms, it will do the opposite.”
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