Rabbetting On: I'm with Jeremy Clarkson on this one, let the farmers have their say

But what I do know is that I grew up in the fens and around farmers, who work unfathomably long hours, and insufferably hard doing manual labour to provide for their families and to put food on our tables.

They are also, generally speaking, some of the most well-versed, educated, and clued-up people I have ever met, with real-life experience and brilliant senses of humour.

There is a reason Kaleb Cooper became a national treasure overnight.

Farmers understand how things work, and keep things running, even when everything - including the elements - is battling against them.

I can’t have been older than 7 or 8, the first time I was privy to the real inner workings of a farm, overhearing discussions about harvests, crops, and managing land.

Of course, then it went over my head and I returned to fussing over the spaniels, but even then as a welly-wearing fen girl, I thought what farmers were doing was important.

My first ‘job’ was working as a beater on shoot days with my dad. My payment was £20 and a brace of pheasants.

I had a surprising response to seeing the farmers’ protest in Westminster today, which up until seeing the video from our video journalist, I had buried my head in the sand about (as per my no politics please rule). I felt angry, sad, and proud of the magnificent turnout.

Some of the signs and placards pulled at my heartstrings too. A huge banner reading ‘Farmers can’t afford to die’ is a tough pill to swallow.

Another which read “Our farm is great grandpa’s farm”, made me feel exceptionally upset for the people I grew up around who now might face losing their family farms - and in many ways the futures they thought they had planned.

I was pleased to see Jeremy Clarkson join the march, and even make a speech outside Downing Street. I think he said it best with “I used to be unsympathetic towards farmers when I lived in London. Then I started farming and realised how unbelievably difficult it is.”

His show, Clarkson’s Farm, has of course done wonders for shedding light on British Farming and the trials and tribulations of running a farm.

With all this in mind, if our farmers are saying that this proposed policy change isn’t proper, shouldn’t we listen?

Or at least level the playing field a bit by allowing some major players from the National Farmers Union, DEFRA and BASC in the room when the conversations are being had?

I can’t pretend to be an expert on farming or politics, but I do think, the farmers deserve to have their voices heard.