Jeremy Clarkson clarifies claims he bought farm to avoid tax as he leads farmers' march

Jeremy Clarkson has made a U-turn on his previous statements about the reasons behind purchasing his farm, now claiming he thought it would make for a "better PR story if I said I bought it to avoid paying tax". The TV star and writer defied medical advice to join a throng of farmers in London on Tuesday to voice opposition to changes to agricultural inheritance tax.

The 64 year old, who is the face of Prime Video's 'Clarkson’s Farm', which showcases the challenges of running his Oxfordshire farm, had previously written: "I have bought a farm. There are many sensible reasons for this: Land is a better investment than any bank can offer. The government doesn’t get any of my money when I die. And the price of the food that I grow can only go up."

Moreover, in a 2021 interview with The Times, Clarkson mentioned that dodging inheritance tax was "the critical thing" in his decision to acquire land. However, revisiting the topic in a recent chat with The Times, the ex-Top Gear host confessed: "I never did admit why I really bought it."

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A keen game bird shooter, Clarkson added: "I wanted to have a shoot – I was very naïve. I just thought it would be a better PR story if I said I bought it to avoid paying tax." Amidst the protests this week against the latest Budget's move to levy inheritance tax on farms valued over £1 million, Clarkson took to the streets and spoke to the crowd during the march in central London.

The TV personality expressed his discomfort with being the face of a movement, telling the press: "It should be led by farmers." He admitted that despite not considering himself a true farmer due to his lack of proficiency in "so many basic jobs" he sees his role as one to "report on farming". His show Clarkson’s Farm, which has brought significant attention to his Diddly Squat farm shop, is set for a fifth series.

When questioned about rural poverty and its representation, Clarkson concurred, noting that his programme doesn't showcase it either, saying: "One of the problems we have on the show is we’re not showing the poverty either, because obviously on Diddly Squat there isn’t any poverty", but he acknowledged the harsh reality surrounding him: "But trust me, there is absolute poverty. I’m surrounded by farmers. I’m not going out for dinner with James Dyson."

He highlighted the struggles of smaller-scale farmers, stating: "It’s people with 200 acres, 400 acres. Way past Rachel Reeves’s threshold. They are f*****." Aside from his farming series, Clarkson also hosts Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

'I’d be a terrible political leader, hopeless'

on ITV and recently concluded The Grand Tour with his former Top Gear colleagues. On the topic of entering politics, Clarkson dismissed the idea, saying: "I’d be a terrible political leader, hopeless." He added, "I’m a journalist at heart, I prefer throwing rocks at people than having them thrown at me."

Nonetheless, he voiced his support for the farmers' cause, asserting he would be "100 per cent behind any escalation" following their march. Last month, Clarkson disclosed in a Sunday Times column his recent heart scare that led to an urgent procedure for stents after a "sudden deterioration" in health, with symptoms including "clammy" skin, chest "tightness", and "pins and needles" in his arm.

It emerged that one of his arteries was "completely blocked and the second of three was heading that way", with doctors warning he was just "days away" from a potentially severe illness. On pondering retirement, the Doncaster-born star commented: "Probably not. It depends when you die, I always think." He added with Northern grit, "You’d be surprised, us Northerners are made of strong stuff."

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