In the autumn budget, announced changes to inheritance tax reliefs. From April 2026, taxes would apply to agricultural assets over £1million (or up to £3million in certain circumstances).
The government has said this would affect the wealthiest landowners and disincentivise buying agricultural land to avoid tax. However, farming groups have argued that the policy threatens the future of family farming and the UK’s food security.
Farm owner and motoring expert has criticised the government for the proposed changes.
Clarkson shared an impassioned post on X from Punch Tavern CEO Hugh Osmond, who said: “Unlike politicians, British farmers have to work seven days a week, 52 weeks per year so that we can all eat seven days a week, 52 weeks per year.
“They put in this effort for returns that often work out at less than the minimum wage per hour. And now we want to reward & their critical role in society by imposing a tax on them when they die that will mean their children have to sell their only asset, destroying the very businesses that put food on our tables every day.”
Jeremy Clarkson hit out at Rachel Reeves. (Image: INSTAGRAM)
It wasn’t long before a user on the social media platform X asked: “So why do they have time for all these protests? Since tractors are banned from motorways, driving to all these protests must take considerable time.”
In response, Clarkson said: “Let’s think. Because it’s February? And so wet they can’t get into the fields. And because Reeves has made a very big mistake, she needs to realise this.”
One person commented: “It’s not a mistake if your plan is to destroy farming and help the banks buy up all the land.”
Another person responded: “Facts are bothersome to the left.”
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Rachel Reeves announced from next year inheritance tax to farmers would be introduced. (Image: Getty)
Clarkson was previously criticised for saying he bought his farm as an inheritance tax dodge over a decade ago but has since shared that he had other reasons for purchasing the land.
In 2009, in a newspaper column, Clarkson, whose farm Diddly Squat is the location and subject of Prime Video’s global hit show Clarkson’s Farm, wrote: “Land is a better investment than any bank can offer. The government doesn’t get any of my money when I die.”
However, in a recent interview with The Times, the presenter shared: “I never did admit why I really bought it… I wanted to have a shoot — I was very naive. I just thought it would be a better PR story if I said I bought it to avoid paying tax.”
Clarkson has proved to be an ardent advocate for his new rural farming community, saying government figures don’t understand the burden on farmers across the UK. However, he rebutted the idea, raised by many, that he should go into politics to represent his adopted group.
He shared: “I’d be a terrible political leader, hopeless. I’m a journalist at heart; I prefer throwing rocks at people than having them thrown at me.”
Clarkson was also asked whether part of the problem with the ongoing debate is that rural poverty is often hidden, meaning politicians and the general public are unaware of the hardships that farmers often face.
“Yes. And one of the problems we have on the show is we’re not showing the poverty either, because obviously on Diddly Squat, there isn’t any poverty,” Clarkson answered.