Farmers protest London: Jeremy Clarkson gives heartfelt speech at Farmers' protest in Westminster

“We feel very much that policies are being created by people who don’t talk to farmers,” this was the general feeling at the farmers’ protest in Westminster this morning (November 19.)

Farmers from across the UK gathered in Westminster today to protest changes to inheritance tax that will impact family farms.

Jeremy Clarkson was among the thousands of farmers spotted at the protest alongside crews (presumably for the next season of Clarkson’s Farm, which has recently been given the green light.)

On October 30th, the former Top Gear host wrote on X: “Farmers. I know that you have been shafted today. But please don’t despair. Just look after yourselves for five short years and this shower will be gone.”

Today, Clarkson spoke at the rally saying the budget delivered a “hammer blow” to farmers and urged ministers to back down.

He said he was “unsympathetic to farmers” when he lived in London but since starting farming himself, he has learned how “unbelievably difficult it is”.

He ended his heartfelt address by saying: “I beg the government to be big, to accept that this was rushed through. It wasn’t thought out, and it’s a mistake. That’s the big thing to do – admit it and back down.”

Photos from the protest show hordes of farmers braving the rain with placards and posters. One, which can be seen in our video above, says: “Our farm is Great Grandpa’s farm.”

Neil Hudson, MP for Epping Forest and shadow DEFRA minister told London World: “This policy if it comes in will be so damaging to British farming, families will go out of business and people will not be able to pass on their land to the next generation.

He also went on to describe the decision as “catastrophic and ill-judged” adding it “must be reversed.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he understands the concerns of farmers and "wants to support" them - but also stressed that the "vast majority of farms, would be unaffected" by the changes to inheritance tax.

Nigel Farage has spoken in support of farmers in the past few days. Last week he warned on GB News: "Don't underestimate the fury of farmers" and later posted on social media: "No farmers, no food".