Jeremy Clarkson, the outspoken farmer and former television presenter, has taken a dramatic step in protest against rising taxes: a sweeping ban on all Labour MPs from his pub, The Farmer’s Dog. The action isn’t a new tactic for Clarkson, who has previously barred individuals for offenses ranging from requesting Tabasco in a Bloody Mary to simply being his former co-star, James May.
This time, however, the scale is unprecedented. Clarkson has now added 403 names to his pub’s blacklist, citing a crippling increase in business rates as the catalyst. What was once a manageable £28,000 annual expense has ballooned to over £50,000, a figure he deems “a disgrace.”
The ban extends, notably, to Labour leader Keir Starmer, who was already unwelcome at the establishment. Clarkson’s frustration isn’t simply political; it’s rooted in the financial realities of running a rural business. He’s openly lamented the struggle to turn customer visits into actual profit, despite a steady flow of patrons.
There’s one exception to the blanket prohibition: Markus Campbell Savours, the MP for Penrith and Solway. Clarkson extended a pointedly warm welcome to Savours, even joking about the MP’s recent dismissal from the Labour Party, a move seemingly prompted by Savours’ rebellion against the government’s inheritance tax plans.
Clarkson’s actions are part of a larger movement, “Taxed Out,” a campaign protesting the escalating business rates impacting the hospitality industry. Pubs across the country are being encouraged to display posters and beermats emblazoned with the message “No Labour MPs,” signaling their discontent.
Organizers of the Taxed Out campaign claim the recent budget has already resulted in 89,000 job losses within the hospitality sector. They argue that the industry is unfairly burdened by taxation, paying more than any other sector in the economy even before the latest increases.
Clarkson has consistently voiced his opposition to Keir Starmer and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves, even subtly criticizing Reeves’ proposed inheritance tax rules during the final episode of his farming show. He believes these rules threaten the future of farming and the UK’s food security.
This isn’t an isolated incident of protest. Clarkson has previously joined farmers demonstrating against new inheritance tax rules, highlighting his deep concern for the agricultural community and the broader economic impact of government policies.
