Jeremy Clarkson has sparked a new debate about the pressures facing British farming after giving a blunt response to a social media user who blamed Brexit for British farmers’ struggles.
The exchange followed a video Clarkson recorded in support of the agriculture campaign “No Farmers, No Food” in which he called on the next government to give agriculture a higher priority on the political agenda.
In the video filmed on his phone, Clarkson said he wanted ministers to prioritize agriculture and address what he described as a contradiction in policy. “We’ve been asked to diversify,” he said, “and when we try to do that, local authorities tell us we can’t — and that needs to be addressed.”
The comments sparked a flood of reactions on X, formerly Twitter. One user suggested that Clarkson should join Reform UK to act as an intermediary between farmers and policymakers. Another took a very different view, arguing that Brexit was at the root of the sector’s problems. He claimed that farms had lost EU subsidies and that it had become cheaper for retailers to source food from the continent.
Clarkson responded curtly to this claim: “Oh dear. You seem to have no grasp of reality.”
The remark sparked a wider discussion among users about the future of farming, food security and rural policy in the UK. Several commentators called for greater support for domestic producers, with some even calling for Clarkson to take on a formal political role. The messages ranged from appeals to “always buy locally” to ironic suggestions that the TV presenter be appointed agriculture minister.
Others echoed Clarkson’s frustration with the planning system, highlighting what they believe is a quandary for farmers who are encouraged to diversify their holdings but are then prevented from doing so by planning rules. Questions about land use were also raised, with some users asking why farmers face restrictions on what they can grow or build on their own land.
The No Farmers, No Food campaign was founded by James Melville, who grew up on a family farm in Scotland. The account is run jointly by farmers across the UK and regularly features posts from high-profile figures commenting on agricultural issues.
Clarkson, who has become a prominent voice in agriculture through his work at Clarkson’s Farm, has repeatedly argued that the sector is being squeezed by rising costs, restrictive regulation and policy decisions that do not reflect the realities of running a farm. His latest post highlights how emotional – and politically charged – the future of British farming has become.
