Jeremy Clarkson has warned his operation will be in the red if he is forced to sell land, but said his farm operation could struggle to survive under pressure from rising costs and taxes.
The broadcaster and farmer warned that the current direction of policy risks undermining family farms, reiterating his opposition to Labour’s inheritance tax proposals and highlighting the financial vulnerability of farm businesses.
Mr Clarkson, 65, runs Diddley Squat Farm in the Cotswolds and has been a vocal critic of previous plans outlined by Chancellor Rachel Reeves to impose an inheritance tax on farmland.
These proposals have raised widespread concerns across the agricultural sector, with farmers warning that taxes on farm assets could force land sales, reduce farm size and disrupt intergenerational succession.
The government subsequently amended the plan in December 2025 to raise the tax threshold for inheritances, but uncertainty remains over how future inheritances and land transfers will be treated.
In a recent Sunday Times column, Mr Clarkson discussed the economic realities faced by many farms as ownership is passed from generation to generation.
“Of course, one day his father will die and, thanks to the Labor Party, if the farm is medium-sized, he will have to pay inheritance tax,” he wrote.
He said selling land is often the only way to meet the bill, severely impacting the viability of farms.
“And the only way he can afford to do that is to sell part of the farm, which would make the farm completely unviable,” he said.
Clarkson added that even large stocks have low profit margins.
“I have 1,000 acres of land in Diddley Squat, but even a farm that big is not profitable,” he wrote. “If we had to sell a third of that to pay Rachel Reeves, we would stop breaking even and we would lose money.”
For farmers, the problem goes beyond individual companies. This discussion has renewed focus on succession planning, land prices, and how agriculture can remain financially viable while passing assets between generations without compromising scale or productivity.
Mr Clarkson also pointed to the rising costs faced by local service industries, which he said reflected broader pressures on the local economy.
He runs The Farmer’s Dog pub and said he faced similar challenges to those identified by Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge. Mr Kerridge recently warned that operating fees at his restaurant in Marlow would skyrocket.
“At my pub, the Farmer’s Dog, the situation is not quite as bleak, but it’s still pretty bad,” Clarkson wrote.
“The valuation has jumped from £27,250 to £55,000, and once you factor in the National Insurance contribution increase, your wage bill will rise by £42,000 a year, putting you on the rubber tree.”
Clarkson’s comments reflect broader concerns from farmers and local business owners about the cumulative impact of tax changes, labor costs and operating expenses.
As policy debates continue, farmers say clarity is important for companies to plan for the long term, protect family farms and avoid decisions that could permanently reduce productive land.
