Jeremy Clarkson fury as farmer protest in London is ‘blocked’ – unlike Just Stop Oil _ Hieuuk
The Clarkson’s Farm star has voiced fury after the National Farmers Union told members not to come to London on the 19th.
Jeremy Clarkson has voiced fury at the ‘ban’ (Image: PA)
Jeremy Clarkson has voiced fury amid claims a planned farmer protest against Rachel Reeves’ ‘tractor tax’ has been blocked from going ahead on the 19th.
The Top Gear star-turned-farmer blasted the National Farmer’s Union after they told farmers not to come to London on the planned day of action due to “legal issues”.
Mr Clarkson had planned on joining his fellow farmers for the protest, and has called out the double-standards on free speech.
He fumed: “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.
READ MORE: Top stars fuming at Rachel Reeves’ Budget from Jeremy Clarkson to Piers Morgan
Farmers have said they will turn up to protest anyway (Image: Getty)
“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.”
“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 told members on Wednesday that there are “legal issues” which mean they “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.”
Don’t miss…
Rachel Reeves under pressure to U-turn on ‘crippling’ tax grab on family farms [LATEST]
I’m a farmer facing £1m bill under Labour tax raid – it’s not fair on my son [LATEST]
Furious farmers stage first protest over Labour inheritance tax raid [LATEST]
Farmers are furious with the Chancellor (Image: Getty)
However farmers now say they will simply organise their own day of action independent of the NFU, which some members are accusing of being too “wishy washy”.
A breakaway group of furious farmers say they have applied for permission to protest on the 19th, and hope that thousands turn up to voice their disgust at Rachel Reeves’ plans which many claim will kill family-run farming in Britain.
Clive Bailye from Staffordshire told the Telegraph that the NFU is failing by not reflecting farmers’ anger at the tax hike.
He fumed: “That’s been the theme for a while. I think they’ve been losing members a lot over recent years because people just feel they’re a bit wishy-washy.
“The NFU are not rolling themselves in glitter at the moment over this. Everyone’s kind of asking what the hell they are doing. There’s a whole feeling in agriculture between farmers, that they’re missing any kind of leadership.”
Trending
He added that while they hope as many as 10,000 will join the protest in a fortnight, they are not encouraging farmers to drive their tractors into the capital and reject claims they plan to bring London to a standstill.
The Metropolitan Police have insisted that no protests have been banned, and they are willing to work with anyone to organise peaceful protests.
A spokesman said: “We are aware that there are a number of events being planned currently in relation to the recent budget announcements affecting farmers.
“The National Farmers Union have emphasised that their event at a conference centre in Westminster on 19 November will not be a protest.
“This is not on advice from the Metropolitan Police, and at no point have we banned anyone from marching on this date.
“We will work with any organisation or individual wishing to organise a peaceful protest or demonstration in London and continue to speak with the NFU.”
