Jeremy Clarkson’s fury as farmers blocked from ‘tractor tax’ protest while Just Stop Oil & pro-Palestinian demos allowed
JEREMY Clarkson told of his fury tonight after farmers were apparently blocked from protesting in the capital against Labour’s hated “tractor tax”.
He was among hundreds planning to attend a rally on November 19 against Budget inheritance tax hikes that will hit agricultural properties.
But the National Farmers’ Union — which will still lobby MPs on that date — said a mass protest had been axed due to “legal issues”.
London’s Met Police responded by insisting it had not banned any march.
Clarkson’s Farm star and Sun columnist Jeremy said he booked a coach to travel to London to protest alongside agricultural workers from the Cotswolds.
He has now shelved the plans — but told of his anger that pro-Palestine and Just Stop Oil demos seem to get better treatment.
Jeremy, 64, said: “Perhaps if I had draped my tractor in a Palestinian flag it would be different.
“It seems that if you are from Just Stop Oil or protesting about Gaza, you can do what you want. But farmers are treated differently by a government that is waging an all-out war on the countryside.
“We wanted to protest in a dignified and sensible way — which was why I had booked the coach rather than causing disruption with tractors and farming vehicles.”
Jeremy, who owns Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington, Oxfordshire, added: “I am in a fortunate position but I feel desperately sorry for other farmers who are very angry and anxious about the future.
“The NFU have said officially they don’t want to disrupt people’s lives, but I have it on very good authority they have been told to do this.” The union is restricting its lobbying event to 1,800 registered members and urging against street protests.
A message to farmers on Wednesday said: “There are legal issues which mean we can’t simply turn up in numbers in Westminster in the streets or the open spaces.
“We cannot risk either member or public safety, or the loss of public support that could come from an illegal demonstration.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is slapping a 20 per cent inheritance levy on previously-exempt family farms worth more than £1million from April 2026.
The Treasury has claimed the move would affect only 27 per cent of farms, yet the NFU says the figure was closer to 66 per cent.
The Met Police said: “At no point have we banned anyone from marching on this date. We will work with anyone wishing to organise a peaceful protest.”