Jeremy Clarkson made an appearance, as promised, at today’s protest about a “draconian” inheritance tax rule introduced by Labour for those with farms valued at over £1million.
Furious farmers had threatened to leave supermarket shelves empty, despite Labour’s claims they had contingency plans, and warned the public that the new rules are a huge mistake. Meanwhile, Clarkson’s Farm star Jeremy – who once stated he’d originally bought his farm to avoid unwelcome inheritance tax bills – has showed up at the London protest, despite reportedly going against doctors’ orders.
Victoria Derbyshire quizzed on BBC Newsnight ahead of the event: “Does it help that Jeremy Clarkson is turning up tomorrow?” The NFU’s Tom Bradshaw delivered a resounding no, insisting: “Probably not on this one.”
He added: “He’s connected with an amazing audience, but this isn’t his fight.” Supportive fans showed up to disagree, though, with one quizzing: “’This isn’t his fight’? What the hell is that man on about? What relevance does that stooge Tom Bradshaw have over what Jeremy Clarkson actually does?”
In contrast, one follower griped: “I was originally on the side of farmers but Clarkson’s situation made me realise that many ‘farmers’ are now investors who use farming as a means to protect their money. It’s a shame genuine farmers are put in the same bucket.”
Critics point to a comment made by Jeremy in 2010, when he stated: “Land is a better investment than any bank can offer. The government doesn’t get any of my money when I die.”
Therefore, despite his farm apparently making just £114 in profit in its first year of operations, it could have been financially viable in a different way – and, of course, Jeremy’s Amazon Prime show Clarkson’s Farm has netted him profit too.
That said, Jeremy has been a supportive spokesperson for farmers who are struggling and raised awareness of what they go through.
He arrived in London last night to attend the industry’s National Pig Awards, and posted a photo of his girlfriend Lisa Hogan wiping tears from her eyes as she clutched a trophy.
Then, after the celebrations, he headed to the Westminster protest, which kicked off this morning, alongside thousands of dedicated farmers fighting back against Labour’s new inheritance tax laws.
It’s a big day for Jeremy, but he must avoid stress after already having confessed he’d flaunted doctors’ orders to stay away from the demonstration.
Just last month, he revealed how he’d feared he was having a heart attack after being taken ill and struggling to climb stairs, only to find that a major artery supplying blood to his heart had been “completely blocked”.
Two others were also compromised and medics rushed him in for surgery, inserting a stent into his arm to improve blood flow.
However, he defiantly told the Sun of the protest: “I will be there, despite having letters from doctors telling me not to go on the march and saying I must avoid stress.”
