viewers were left less than impressed over an stance on the ongoing debate surrounding Labour’s proposed Inheritance Tax changes.
were only recently fiercely protested in Westminster, with farmers taking to the streets with their frustrations – including input from after his own new-found career on his Diddly Squat Farm.
But it was during from Trowbridge that’s continued the conversation as host Fiona Bruce was joined by Nick Thomas-Symonds, Harriett Baldwin, , and Baroness Minette Batters.
Answering the question ‘should famers be liable for inheritance tax like everyone else?’, Former NFU president Batters had a lot to say on the matter. “These businesses are getting handed down, so they are very cash poor… they are only asset rich if they sell.”
But one viewer in the audience didn’t agree with Minette, sarcastically bringing down their statement with a savage quip that didn’t go down well with some online.
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The audience member didn’t hold back giving up their opinion (Image: BBC)
They said: “I keep hearing this ‘cash poor’ and ‘asset rich’ and I understand, my maths isn’t great, but for £400,000 worth of inheritance tax, you have a £5million estate.”
The person continued: “I’m afraid you’re going to have to find me the world’s smallest violin to tell me you that you don’t pay tax on an estate you’re passing down to your children of £5million.”
Taking to X, formally Twitter, user @holte wrote: “Gentlemen in the audience hits the nail on the head. This will only impact a small percentage of the wealthiest land owners #bbcqt”
While user @knowles204 backed him up, writing: “The guy is saying what the vast majority are thinking. Same with private schools.”
But not everyone agreed, with @MrStephenTee saying: “It’s not your maths, mate; it’s your jealousy over a family that has worked for generations and passed on the proceeds of those generations so that we might eat.”
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Gentlemen in the audience hits the nail on the head “I’m afraid you are gonna have to find me the world’s smallest violin to tell me that you don’t pay tax on an estate worth £5 Million”This will only impact a small percentage of the wealthiest land owners
— Clifford ???????????? (@holte)
As @CarlosS1kRR added: “No he doesn’t, he’s completely wrong becuase the farmer isn’t going to SELL the asset so where does he pull 400k from. If it was a house you inherited you’d sell it & sail off with £3m or so in your pocket!! It’s really not rocket science,they’re paying tax on something they work.”
Clarkson recently lashed out at the when he attended the family farm tax protest on Tuesday, November 19. But things took an unexpected turn when he spoke to Victoria Derbyshire from the about the impact his farm has had on the industry.
He began: “I’m here to support farmers but it’s difficult to be angry on someone else’s behalf.” The journalist then asked him: “So, it’s not about you, it’s not about your farm and the fact that you bought a farm to avoid the inheritance tax?”
It was at this point that the 64-year-old launched into a heated debate with the broadcaster. He argued: “This is classic , this is he fact that I bought a farm to avoid inheritance tax, the fact?” She insisted: “You told the Sunday Times in 2021 that that’s why you bought it.”
The shared the controversial clip on their official Newsnight X account, which was soon flooded with comments from disgruntled viewers online. One user penned: “Well done, Jeremy. You speak on behalf of an awful lot of people being peed on from a great height by this awful government and those who support them.”
Another pointed out: “When he can’t answer a question he makes pathetic attempts to whip up crowd support” as a fourth echoed: “Typical populist – gets confronted with the plain truth and the very words that he said previously so deflects.”