Clarkson urges Labour to ‘back down’ at Westminster rally

Farming celebrities and opposition leaders joined an estimated 20,000 farmers and their families in Westminster on Tuesday (19 November) to protest against Labour’s planned inheritance tax (IHT) changes, as outlined in last month’s Budget.

The demonstration, which saw coachloads of farmers travel from across the UK, included speeches from high-profile figures like TV farmer Jeremy Clarkson, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, and rally organiser Ollie Harrison.

See also: In photos – farmers protest tax plans in mass rally

Meanwhile, hundreds of NFU members queued in the rain to meet their MPs in the Houses of Parliament to demand a rethink.

In his speech, Mr Clarkson urged the government to reconsider its policy.

“I know a lot of people got a knee in the nuts from that Budget,” he said, prompting boos from the crowd. “Rachel Reeves has told us 72% of farms are going to be unaffected.

“For the sake of everybody here, and for all the farmers stuck at home, paralysed with despair, I beg the government to be big.

“Admit that this was rushed through, it wasn’t thought out, and it was a mistake. The big thing to do now is to back down.”

‘Done dirty’

Among the rally’s attendees was 19-year-old Logan Dumford from Somerset.

“I’ve just lost my job as a machine operator at a dairy farm being sold off due to the Budget announcement. I’m so sad that my farm will shut down. Labour have really done us dirty,” he said.

From April 2026, inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m, which were previously exempt, will be liable to the tax at 20%, half the usual rate.

The government claims the policy will only impact the wealthiest 500 estates annually, but the NFU and the Country Land and Business Association estimate that up to 70,000 farms could be affected.

Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch also addressed the crowd, calling the proposed policy “cruel and unfair,” and pledged to reverse it.

“We have got your backs,” she assured the attendees, earning loud applause.

Kemi Badenoch (second from right) © MAG/Albie Matthews

Struggle

In an emotional speech, Claire Wise, a mixed farmer from County Durham, shared how the proposed inheritance tax would affect her family. “I’m an average farmer. After the last harvest, I struggled to buy my kids’ school shoes.

“We’re asset-rich, but cash-poor. This government seeks to destroy our family farms. But I won’t be their statistics.”

Daniel Barry, an arable farmer from near Edinburgh, also warned of rising discontent.

“We’re here to add our voices. If we don’t say something, it’s like we’re just laying down and taking it. This rally is a polite warning to the government before we start spreading slurry where it shouldn’t be.”