Jeremy Clarkson has sparked controversy by burning an effigy of Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the upcoming series of his Amazon Prime show, Clarkson's Farm. The stunt comes as a protest against Labour's proposed 20 per cent inheritance tax hikes on agricultural businesses valued over £1 million.
Bonfire Night Protest
In the new series, set to air later this year, Clarkson is seen setting fire to the effigy on Bonfire Night, just days after the October 2024 Budget was delivered. He narrates the scene, stating, "it felt good to make fun of the government." The act is part of a broader campaign against what farmers have dubbed the "tractor tax."
Joining the Farmers' Protest
Clarkson later joined thousands of farmers and supporters at a protest in Westminster, where he spoke to The Times about the impact of the tax. He highlighted the issue of rural poverty, explaining that the policy would force many family farms to sell land or equipment to pay the tax bill. "This is not just about inheritance; it's about the survival of British farming," he said.
Pub Ban for Starmer
In a separate move, Clarkson banned Keir Starmer from his Cotswolds pub, The Farmer's Dog. Speaking to Times Radio, he said, "He hasn't done much to endear himself to me yet." The pub, which opened in 2024, has become a local hotspot and a symbol of Clarkson's farming ventures.
Background on the Tax
The inheritance tax changes, announced in the October 2024 Budget, would impose a 20 per cent tax on agricultural assets worth more than £1 million. The government argues the measure is needed to fund public services, but farmers and rural campaigners say it threatens the future of small-scale agriculture in the UK.
Clarkson, who has become an unlikely advocate for British farming since the success of his show, has repeatedly warned that the tax could be "the end" for many farmers. His latest actions are likely to reignite debate over the policy and its impact on rural communities.
