Oliver Trapnell
Guest Reporter
Jeremy Clarkson has called on Labour to “admit” they made a mistake and “back down” on the farmer’s inheritance tax raid.
Addressing a crowd at Tuesday's farmers' protest in Westminster, the Clarkson’s farm star ripped into Keir Starmer’s newly elected Government.
Thousands of farmers accompanied Clarkson on the streets of the capital to protest against the so-called "tractor tax" measures outlined in Chancellor Rachel Reeves's Budget last month.
Kicking off his speech, Clarkson was met with raucous applause by the farming attendees as he began: "I am not supposed to be talking but we have got a few things to say. I am going to start with a bit of honesty.
“I lived in London for 25 to 30 years and when I was here, like a lot of people who live in cities and go on Twitter, I thought farmers drove around in Range Rovers, moaning, until February and then you all went skiing.
“And then about five years ago I started farming and I have come to understand just how unbelievably difficult it is and complicated and dangerous and cold, very cold. Even when we’re harvesting it is cold.”
The former Top Gear presenter continued: “I know a lot of people all across the country, all walks of life took a bit of a kick on the shin from the budget. You lot got a knee in the nuts and a light hammer blow to the back of the head.
“We had pickup trucks being reclassified as company cars, 211 per cent tax rise there. £50 carbon tax on a bag of fertiliser. The basic farm payments altered in such a way, that we are getting a lot less than we thought we were going to get.”
However, rounding out his speech, Clarkson said: “I want to finish with a message to the Government.
“For the sake of everybody here, and for all the farmers who are stuck at home paralyzed by a fog of despair on what has been hoisted upon them.
“I beg of the Government to be big, to accept this was rushed through, wasn’t thought out and it was a mistake. Admit it and back down.”
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