By making Jeremy Clarkson their spokesperson, Farmers have shot themselves in the foot

[Coolasfeck]

JC openly admitted to becoming a farmer to avoid IHT. Why do farmers think having him as the figurehead will help them? Just because he’s off the telly doesn’t mean ordinary people will support him. It makes them all appear to be out of touch millionaires.

Feels like a spectacular own goal. Either that or the media is setting them up by making him the focus.

Quote from Sky News:

‘Those generous reliefs have made agriculture an attractive investment for those seeking to shelter wealth from the taxman.

Clarkson, the UK's highest profile farmer - and opponent of the government's plans - said as much when promoting his Amazon series about becoming the proprietor of Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire.

"Land is a better investment than any bank can offer. The government doesn't get any of my money when I die. And the price of the food that I grow can only go up," he told the Times.

Mr Clarkson is far from alone. Private and institutional investors, along with so-called "lifestyle" farmers funding purchases from previous careers, like the former Top Gear presenter and his Oxfordshire neighbour, the Blur bassist Alex James, now dominate agricultural land purchases.’

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/whats-the-beef-with-farmers-inheritance-tax-13256257

IHT is unworkable. It would be better to abolish it and instead charge CGT when assets are sold. CGT (after adjusting for inflation) should be charged as any other income, and exceptions such as the main home allowance would go (rollover relief would cover those selling one home and immediately buying another). CGT liability shouldn't end on death, instead the liability should be inherited with the asset and be due if/when the asset is sold by the beneficiary.

This would preserve family farms and stop people being forced to sell granny's house to pay a lump sum, but at the same time it would close loopholes and increase revenue for the Treasury.

JC being at the march yesterday created a bit more interest in the subject for some I think likely to be positive more than anything as many people like him

And what does it matter if you like him or not the sensible thing is to listen to a number of people (farmers) who know what they are talking about and who it shall really be impacting

Labour are not getting off to a good start, they did not look fully research the impact of the changes to the Winter Fuel Allowance and it appears they have done the same here

I expect better from Labour

One born every minute. The only person Clarkson speaks for or cares about is himself.

This.

Passing on through inheritance only means something if you can sell your assets and have no intention of working the land.

Regardless of how you cut it, farming isn't high profit margin.

The value of assets is all tied up in a value that can't be accessed.

I disagree. And please no need to be rude. Clarkson doesn't need to go to the protest. He I am sure is wealthy enough that this doesn't affect him materially. He is lending his voice. To me that's a good thing.

Perhaps watch a variety of news sources. I haven't seen him at all, but there has been lots of multi-geberational farmers on our local news. We are in the NW.
It's really dangerous to outsource our food production. Look at what we are paying re the Black sea grain initiative. I think that perhaps if IHT is avoided then the land should have to stay as a farm for a time period, but farming land shouldn't be lost and under the new IHT rules, it will have to be.
They all should carry pictures of Prince William calling for him and his lot, to be targeted for IHT.

What's rude about it? It's a statement of opinion based on... oh, everything he has ever said and done, and I'm happy to stand by it. You thinking he gains nothing from it is laughably naive. It's another ego stroke, and he loves those

What is patently rude is saying !"one born every minute". I assume you are referring to me. And that is rude.

I hear what you are saying re Jeremy Clarkson but if you choose to dismiss all farmers based on him… I think frankly that is pretty dismissive. There are official spokespeople from the NFU and you can easily Google their message. Why choose not to do that?

I still don’t understand why you and do many bleat on that you pay IHT. Farming is a unique case - as per PMQ 'Let's look at the facts. A typical mid-sized 360-acre family farm in the constituency of Thirsk and Malton, they've spoken to their accountant. Their new liability because of this Government is half a million pounds, that's 12 years worth of profit,' - when you die, your children won’t have to pay out of their wages to pay for it! It’s a very different use case and cannot be adequately compared. Unless of course the government chose to pay farmers a wage… then it might be fair!

Not sure you’ll get much sympathy if you describe other IHT payers as bleating PP. Particularly if you want to win people around. Farmers need some friends don’t they? Being angry isn’t going to do it, nor is Jeremy Clarkson being front and centre.

Sorry if bleating is offensive - seemed apt to use farming terminology! 🐑

however, my point stands that IHT on a parents accrued wealth and house is different to a generational farm as in a farm the IHT will affect the profitability and wages of the farm and make it unviable. When my parents die I will sell off their house and assets, pay the IHT and have some left over and will have absolutely not affect on my wages or career in anyway. I feel like the equivalent would be if my parents died and then in order to pay the tax i had to have 10% shaved off my wages each month.

maybe I’m being clunky in how I’m trying to describe it or understand it this - Would love a farmer or accountant to explain it! Especially an accountant who specialises in farming accounts.

Exactly! They all voted for fucking brexit and are now pissed off that wages are higher.

"They all voted for Brexit"?

It may be news to you but Clarkson has long been quite clear that he voted Remain.

Incidentally it's not higher wages which are affecting most farms. The biggest cost increase for arable farms has been fertiliser, something which is largely down to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Clarkson is a journalist with a hobby farm that he bought for tax reasons. And when Brexit was voted for, he was definitely still a journalist sans any interest in the tax advantages he could gain out of agriculture. Painting him as some long term salt of the earth farmer is ridiculous. He is anything but.

He is good copy and seems more engaged by the BBC for whom he clearly has an abiding anger at for sacking him. Should any of the government’s arrangements prove too troublesome he can be relied upon to leverage the situation with an extended edition of Clarkson’s Farm at great personal enrichment.

i understand that Brexit is sensitive enough for farmers that they excluded Farage from speaking at the protest. Probably a very good idea. Perhaps the NFU might search for a charismatic leader who can speak properly instead? They seem to have hit it half right.

Sensible words Chesecake. The farmers' case is made all the weaker by allowing a vindictive, bullying TV clown such as Clarkson to steal the spotlight for his own ends. Boot him out!