Kemi Badenoch met with Jeremy Clarkson at his Oxfordshire pub yesterday, as the pair discussed the challenges facing farmers.
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Labour claims its support for farmers is ‘steadfast’ – but there is ongoing outrage from rural communities about Rachel Reeves’ announcement that farms will no longer be exempt from paying inheritance tax.
Ms Badenoch posted on X, formerly Twitter: ‘A delight to meet local farmers at Jeremy Clarkson’s pub, where everything served is produced by British farmers.
‘Family farms across the country are now at risk because of Labour’s Budget.
‘Conservatives support farmers and will reverse the cruel family farms tax at the first opportunity.’
A source told the Telegraph: ‘They discussed the general challenges facing farmers – tax, regulation and Labour’s family.
‘They discussed how you make farming attractive to the next generation so that UK farming can prosper in the future.’
Kemi Badenoch meets Jeremy Clarkson at his pub to discuss the challenges facing farmers
The former Top Gear presenter, who has been vocal in his opposition of Labour ‘s planned inheritance tax raid on farms, spoke to the Tory leader on Thursday
Kemi Badenoch meets Jeremy Clarkson at his pub in Asthall, which he purchased earlier this year
As well as the introduction of a 20 per cent inheritance tax rate on farms worth more than £1 million, Labour are also planning to speed up the phase-out of EU-era subsidies in favour of nature-friendly farming payments.
Tax experts have estimated that up to 75,000 farm owners could be hit by the tax changes.
Ministers insist the changes will affect only the wealthiest quarter of landowners, but the National Farmers Union and other groups have warned the impact will be more widespread and could affect British food production.
Last month dozens of tractors lined up in Whitehalll to protest the proposed tax changes.
Clarkson led a convoy of tractors bearing ‘the final straw’ signs before joining a huge rally attended by the likes of Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Tory party leader Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage.
Mr Clarkson, who runs Diddly Squat farm in Chipping Norton, was holding a sign reading ‘With our farmers’.
Asked what his message was for the government, he told Sky News: ‘Please, back down’. And asked how bad the policy could be for farmers, he said: ‘It’s the end.’
In a second interview, Clarkson said Rachel Reeves has used a ‘blunderbuss’ to hit the agricultural sector.
Kemi Badenoch meets Jeremy Clarkson at his pub, The Farmer’s Dog
The former Top Gear presenter met with the Tory leader at his pub The Farmer’s Dog in Asthall, to discuss the proposed changes
Kemi Badenoch looked in high spirits as she met Jeremy Clarkson on Thursday
Kemi Badenoch shakes Jeremy Clarkson’s hand as the pair meet at his pub to discuss the challenges facing farmers
Badenoch has been vocal in her opposition of the tax changes, having attended a farmers protest last month
Badenoch discusses Labour’s tax changes with a group of farmers including Jeremy Clarkson at his pub, The Farmer’s Dog, in Asthall
The Met Police estimated more than 10,000 people had joined the rally in central London shortly before midday. Ms Badenoch also attended the protest along with several other Tory MPs.
She said in a speech: ‘The policy is cruel it is unfair and it is going to destroy the family farm as we know it. That is why at the first opportunity we will reverse the family farm tax.’
Ms Badenoch explained that she understood the plight of farmers and described the tax as an attack on their way of life.
In an emotional speech, National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president Tom Bradshaw also accused ministers of a ‘stab in the back’.
Earlier this month, a Government report found the UK was 75 percent self-sufficient in the food that can be grown in this country in 2023, and produced the equivalent of 62 percent of overall food consumed.
The figures are broadly unchanged over the past two decades, but the report also warned long term declines in ‘natural capital’ – resources such as clean water, healthy soils and wildlife – is a pressing risk to UK food production.
The report also said extreme weather continues to have a significant effect on domestic production, particularly arable crops, fruit and vegetables.
And the UK continues to be ‘highly dependent’ on imports to meet demand for fruit, vegetables and seafood, which are significant sources of nutrients for consumers, and many of the countries this food is imported from face their own climate-related challenges and sustainability risks, the report said.
