‘Farmers Have Been Shafted’: Jeremy Clarkson Slams Labour’s Inheritance Tax Shake-Up
Jeremy Clarkson has broken his silence on Labour’s controversial new inheritance tax policy, blasting Chancellor Rachel Reeves for “shafting” farmers in the latest Budget.
The 64-year-old broadcaster and farmer took to social media on Wednesday after Reeves announced sweeping changes to Agricultural Property Relief, a long-standing system that previously allowed farmland to be passed down through generations without incurring inheritance tax.
Until now, landowners could rely on the relief to protect their families from what is often dubbed the “death tax.” But under the new measures, set to take effect in April 2026, farms valued at more than £1 million will only qualify for 50 per cent relief. That leaves heirs facing an effective inheritance tax rate of 20 per cent — a dramatic shift that farmers across the country fear will threaten family-run businesses already struggling with rising costs.
Clarkson, who owns the 1,000-acre Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire, wasted no time in voicing his anger. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), he told fellow farmers:
“Farmers. I know that you have been shafted today. But please don’t despair. Just look after yourselves for five short years and this shower will be gone.”
The remark reflects both his frustration with the government and his trademark blunt humour. But the intervention also carries a personal edge. In a recent Sunday Times column, Clarkson admitted that the tax loophole had been one of the practical reasons for maintaining his farm, writing: “There are no death duties on farmland, so my children, like me, have it too.”
The comments come during a particularly turbulent period in Clarkson’s own life. Earlier this month, he revealed he had narrowly escaped death after suffering a serious health scare while on holiday. The former Top Gear presenter described feeling clammy, experiencing chest tightness, and pins and needles down his left arm — classic symptoms of a heart problem. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors carried out lifesaving surgery and warned him that he would need to make major lifestyle changes if he wanted to avoid another close call.
Despite this, Clarkson has remained outspoken not only on farming but also on the state of Britain’s alcohol industry. Reeves’ Budget delivered what she described as a £40 million tax package, but her decision to reduce draught duty by just 1.7 per cent drew heavy criticism.
From the perspective of Clarkson — who earlier this year opened a £1 million pub in the Cotswolds — the gesture was derisory. Posting again on X, he fumed: “Rachel Reeves. I literally daren’t comment.” He later added sarcastically: “We have a new government. It’s turning out to be hopeless.”
His long-time co-star James May also chimed in, mocking the policy by quipping: “Cripes: a penny off a pint of beer. This is a small step to putting the ‘great’ back in to United Kingdom.”
Clarkson’s farm, which he purchased in 2008, became the centrepiece of his hit Prime Video series Clarkson’s Farm after he took on the challenge of running it himself in 2019. The show has now run for three seasons, documenting the daily chaos of farming life while highlighting serious issues facing Britain’s agricultural industry. Last year, it became the most-watched original series on Prime Video in the UK, cementing Clarkson’s second act as both entertainer and unlikely farming advocate.
With filming already underway for season four, Clarkson is once again juggling his television commitments, his health recovery, and his growing reputation as one of the most outspoken defenders of Britain’s farmers.