Jeremy Clarkson branded Labour's attacks on farmers as "relentless" during a surprise appearance at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham on Monday. The former Top Gear host blamed Labour's tax hikes, Iran, energy costs and the impact of war in Ukraine for the sector's challenges.
Clarkson's warning to Labour
Mr Clarkson said: "Not every farmer has a quiz show to host on ITV, I think that’s the essence of it. If you’re an ordinary farmer, this is not just the weather, the attacks come from everywhere.
"Whether it’s Iran or Ukraine or taxes or energy costs, whatever it might be it’s just relentless."
The TV presenter also said that Labour, who faced fury for inheritance tax changes on the industry, does not understand farming. The Clarkson’s Farm star accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, of being ignorant about rural life.
Inheritance tax impact
Asked by Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins about the impact of the policy, Mr Clarkson said: "I think they didn’t understand it when they introduced it ... With a farm it’s completely different because you’d have to sell a bit of it, making it even less profitable, or you’d sell the whole lot.
"And the person moving it doesn’t necessarily know how to farm. I mean, look at me. That’s going to the problem with farms, it’s not like houses, it’s not like normal life. And also you then lose where you grew up, you’re the only person who knows how that farm works because you grew up on it."
He continued: "It makes perfect sense for the way the countryside looks and our food supply system for farmers to pass it on to the only people who know how to do it, which is your kids."
Campaign and policy change
The Daily Express's Save Britain's Family Farms crusade campaigned for a U-turn on the inheritance tax policy. Families had been able to pass their farms to their children tax-free historically but former Chancellor Rachel Reeves ended the relief in her 2024 Budget.
She announced a 20% inheritance tax rate on farm assets, such as land and combine harvesters, above £1 million. Labour then U-turned on the decision in December 2025 and raised the relief threshold to £2.5 million, which came into force in April this year.
