Jeremy Clarkson has unleashed a furious rant after claiming farmers have been “blocked” from joining action in the capital against Labour’s hated “tractor tax”.
The star revealed he had booked a coach to travel to London and join a planned rally for November 19 alongside agricultural workers from the Cotswolds.
The planned event comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves upped the inheritance tax levy by 20 per cent which was previously-exempt family farms worth more than £1million from April 2026.
The Treasury has claimed the move would affect only 27 per cent of farms, yet the NFU (National Farming Union) has claimed the figure was closer to 66 per cent.
Whilst the planned rally is still going ahead, Clarkson issued a lengthy rant where he claimed his plans to attend had been shelved – sharing his anger that pro-Palestine and Just Stop Oil demos are still going ahead.
Writing via The Sun, Clarkson penned: “Perhaps if I had draped my tractor in a Palestinian flag it would be different.
“It seems that if you are from Just Stop Oil or protesting about Gaza, you can do what you want. But farmers are treated differently by a Government that is waging an all-out war on the countryside.
Jeremy Clarkson made his feelings clear about not being able to attend the lobby
PA
“We wanted to protest in a dignified and sensible way — which was why I had booked the coach rather than causing disruption with tractors and farming vehicles.
“I am in a fortunate position but I feel desperately sorry for other farmers who are very angry and anxious about the future.
“The NFU have said officially they don’t want to disrupt people’s lives, but I have it on very good authority they have been told to do this.”
According to a memo sent out by the NFU on Wednesday, “legal issues” have put a dampener on proceedings.
NFU members | Important update on the NFU lobby on 19 November.
Read more👉https://t.co/f67L3xdQqO#BackBritishFarming pic.twitter.com/lyVUxKXS3x
— National Farmers’ Union (@NFUtweets) November 6, 2024
It allegedly read: “There are legal issues which mean we can’t simply turn up in numbers in Westminster in the streets or the open spaces.
“We cannot risk either member or public safety, or the loss of public support that could come from an illegal demonstration.”
The union has said that it simply isn’t the case, with a spokeswoman telling GB News: “Therehasn’t been any imposed restrictions on the NFU that would limit our activities in London.
“Our decision to keep our mass lobby event on November 19 focused on MP engagement is in line with our event’s purpose as a lobby. Our event is not a protest and has never been a protest.
“We are coordinating with the police, just as we are with the venue and other parties, to manage logistical requirements for our lobby – this is standard for events of this scale.
“There are no legal issues preventing our event and the NFU is not involved with or endorsing any protests or rallies in London on this topic.”
Clarkson is the owner of Diddly Squat farm
PA
The union also revealed the event is already at full capacity and urged no new farmers should travel to take part unless they have been registered.
They shared on their X account: “The @NFUtweets mass Budget lobby outside Parliament on November 19th is ‘just start of the fight’, with the union warning the lobby was now at ‘full capacity’.
“If you’re not registered on the event, please don’t travel to London.” (sic)
London’s Met Police also responded and insisted it had not banned any march: “At no point have we banned anyone from marching on this date.
“We will work with anyone wishing to organise a peaceful protest.”
