Jeremy Clarkson has sparked controversy by burning an effigy of Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the upcoming fifth season of Clarkson's Farm. The move comes in response to Labour's proposed 20 per cent inheritance tax increase on farms valued over £1 million, which Clarkson previously warned could spell disaster for British agriculture.
Bonfire Night Protest
In the new season, premiering on 3 June, Clarkson replaces the traditional Guy Fawkes effigy with a likeness of Starmer during Bonfire Night celebrations. While explaining the history of Guy Fawkes to farm hand Kaleb Cooper, Clarkson remarks, "But you don't have to have Guy Fawkes on the top of the bonfire; you can put anything you don't like." The scene shows Clarkson dressing the effigy as Starmer and placing it atop the bonfire, shortly after Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her Budget in October 2024.
"Given the strength of feelings around here post-Budget, it felt good to make fun of the government," Clarkson narrates. However, he acknowledges that mockery alone would not be enough to combat the proposed tax changes, adding, "But all of us knew that to try and stop this astonishing attack on British farming, fun wouldn't cut it – and that soon, we'd have to get serious."
Joining the Protests
Weeks after filming, Clarkson joined an estimated 10,000 to 40,000 farmers protesting the inheritance tax hikes. The demonstrators urged the government to reconsider the 20 per cent levy, which applies to agricultural businesses worth more than £1 million. Speaking to The Times at the protest, Clarkson highlighted the hidden poverty in rural communities, noting that even his show does not fully capture the financial struggles faced by many farmers.
"Yes. And 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," Clarkson said. "But trust me, there is absolute poverty. I'm surrounded by farmers. It's people with 200 acres, 400 acres. Way past Rachel Reeves's threshold. They are f***ed."
He shared the story of Harriet Cowan, who temporarily managed the farm in Cooper's absence. Cowan wishes to inherit her father's farm but cannot afford to do so. "So she works on the farm four days a week and then is a nurse for three days a week," Clarkson explained. "She never goes on holiday. She never has a night off, can't go out. She's got no money to spend."
Previous Clashes with Starmer
Clarkson previously banned Starmer from his Cotswolds pub, The Farmer's Dog, citing the prime minister's lack of support for businesses. "He's actually the first person to be banned," Clarkson told Times Radio. "It's actually on a board in the hall. He hasn't done much to endear himself to me yet."
