Jeremy Clarkson fumes Starmer ‘still destroying countryside’ as he breaks silence on farming tax U-turn: ‘The fight goes on!’
Jeremy Clarkson fumes Starmer ‘still destroying countryside’ as he breaks silence on farming tax U-turn: ‘The fight goes on!’
Jeremy Clarkson has spoken out for the first time following the government’s latest reform to its inheritance tax proposals for farmers after months of protests from the agricultural world.
The government announced last Tuesday that it would increase the inheritance tax threshold for farmers from £1m to £2.5m, marking a significant retreat from its original Budget proposals.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds confirmed the policy shift following sustained pressure from the agricultural sector.
“We have listened closely to farmers across the country, and we are making changes today to protect more ordinary family farms,” Ms Reynolds said.
The revised threshold represents a substantial concession after ministers initially planned to impose a 20 percent levy on inherited agricultural assets exceeding £1m from April 2026.
Under the amended proposals, married couples and civil partners will be able to transfer up to £5m in qualifying agricultural or business assets without incurring inheritance tax, in addition to existing allowances.
Treasury officials indicated the change would halve the number of estates claiming Agricultural Property Relief that face higher bills under the reforms.
The adjustment means only the largest farming operations will be subject to the new levy, and the concession reduces projected revenue from £430m to £300m
Speaking on the matter for the first time in his latest newspaper column, Top Gear star-turned-farmer Mr Clarkson has had his say on the changes, having spent over a year vocally opposing the initial measures.
“So, the Government has finally admitted that the family farm tax was muddled-headed nonsense and raised the threshold when the tax becomes payable from £1million to £2.5million,” he began in The Sun.
“This has been described as a big win for farmers, and it is. But let’s not forget that half of all farms in the UK will still be hit.
“They will still have to be sold when the farmer dies, and who will buy them? Not another farmer, that’s for sure. It’ll be City types and hedge-funders. Who won’t know how to do farming.”
Don’t Miss
