Charlie Ireland, the land agent from Clarkson's Farm, has been snubbed by the Labour party for a third time. The 67-year-old broadcaster joined Jeremy Clarkson at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham on Monday (October 5) in a surprise appearance.
The pair discussed the impact British farming is having on the economy and the changes needed for farmers. The former Top Gear host revealed it had been a "terrible" year for farming due to the hot weather, adding that farmers were being "attacked" from every angle by rising costs.
Labour MP cancels meeting again
During their meeting, the 66-year-old motoring journalist revealed that his co-star had been snubbed by Labour MP Dame Angela Eagle DBE for a third time. He asked Mr Ireland: "You're seeing the Labourites tomorrow, aren't you?" to which the businessman mumbled: "She's cancelled on me."
It was at this point that the dad-of-four thanked the speaker for allowing them to join the conference to spread the message about the struggles facing British farmers. He began: "We're not here for your support, although I'm very grateful that you invited us because the more people you can get the farming message out to, the better.
"But Charlie was supposed to be Ms Eagle, but it's been cancelled for the third time. Nobody's counting, but it's been postponed for the third time. You are hurt, Charlie."
Farmers' crisis and tax policies
The TV personality chuckled: "I've just decided that I might go to London anyway and see if she's available." Clarkson added: "So, we'll talk to anyone who wants to know about farming, that's what I was saying."
Mr Ireland was due to meet the current Labour Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to discuss the severe crisis facing UK farming, specifically targeting Labour's agricultural tax policies. He was hoping to touch on the inheritance tax on farms, which he and Clarkson have strongly campaigned against, the declining return on capital and high tax liabilities, and general rural pressures such as rising costs, energy prices and regulations.
At the conference, Clarkson blasted the Labour party for their "attack" on farmers, declaring that the party simply does not understand the industry. He accused Andy Burnham and his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, of being ignorant to rural life.
Clarkson's defence of family farms
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." The Daily Express's Save Britain's Family Farms crusade campaigned for a U-turn on the inheritance tax policy.
