'The facts speak for themselves': Starmer hits out at Jeremy Clarkson following Westminster farming protests
19 November 2024, 17:46 | Updated: 19 November 2024, 18:13
Sir Keir Starmer has hit out at Jeremy Clarkson over his suggestion that 96 per cent of farmers will be impacted by the Chancellor's changes to inheritance tax.
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Speaking from the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, the PM was asked about the Downing Street farmers' protests and whether Clarkson's comments constituted "misinformation".
The PM refused to be drawn on comments made by Jeremy Clarkson during the rally, with the PM adding: "The facts speak for themselves."
The presenter-turned-farmer had suggested earlier in the day that 96 per cent of farmers are set to be impacted by Rachel Reeves proposed tax changes.
It comes as 64-year-old Clarkson defied the advice of his doctors to "avoid stress" as he recovers from a life-saving heart operation.
His Clarkson's Farm co-stars, Kaleb Cooper and Charlie Ireland, were also seen to attend the London march on Tuesday.
Answering questions from the press in Brazil, the Prime Minister insisted that "the vast majority of farms will be unaffected".
"For a typical family wanting to pass on through the family, with all the allowances in place, it's a £3m threshold," he said.
He added that even those who are impacted "will only pay half the inheritance tax that others pay" - a nod to the rate at which assets are taxed, which is set to be 20 per cent, rather than the average 40 per cent.
Starmer added: "How farmers then arrange their affairs within their family is a matter for them."
Farmers arrived at the event in a convoy of tractors bearing 'the final straw' signs before joining a huge rally attended by the likes of Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Tory party leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform leader Nigel Farage.
Up to 20,000 people attended the demonstration in central London, with some arriving in their tractors with signs plastered on the front.
One read "the final straw" while another said "tax war will break up farms - no farms, no food".
Clarkson held a sign saying "with our farmers" as he urged the government to "back down" over the tax changes.
It follows the PM's meeting with Chinese President Xi at the G20 summit as he pushes for a 'pragmatic' relationship moving forward.
The pair will hold talks in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, with Sir Keir having pledged to have "pragmatic" discussions with the leader when they speak.
