Martin Clunes wades into farming tax row after buying own farm: ‘Constanly amazed by lack of understanding’
Martin Clunes has shared his opinions on Labour’s controversial farming tax raid following months of opposition from those in the agricultural world.
The Doc Martin star owns his own farm in the county of Dorset and has witnessed several protests by farmers take place in London, Oxford and other spots in the country.
Anger has been targeted at Labour and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, in particular, following the measures rolled out in October’s Budget.
For the first time, farmers face paying inheritance tax on assets worth more than £1m having previously been exempt from doing so.
High-profile farmer Jeremy Clarkson and political leaders including Nigel Farage, Ed Davey and Kemi Badenoch have all been vocal opponents of Labour’s proposal.
While he may not occupy the same space as Clarkson in terms of being such a prominent famous figure in the agricultural world, Clunes does possess an insight on how the taxes could impact fellow farmers.
“I’m not a spokesman for anything,” Clunes caveated when quizzed on the inheritance tax measures in a new interview.
He did explain, however: “I’m constantly amazed by people’s lack of understanding of the countryside.
“There are a lot of misconceptions, prejudice, belief that ‘inherited farm this, landed gentry that’. That’s not the truth. These are small farmers.
“200 acres of ground sounds like an enormous area, but if it’s your livelihood and you’re farming it, your margins are going to be like that,” the Doc Martin star delved further to Radio Times while making a gesture with his fingers to show a small gap.
Clunes was speaking ahead of the release of a new ITV drama in which he plays the head of a farming family who finds his land and life under threat.
Addressing the seeming parallels with life for farmers post-Budget, Clunes told the publication: “It wasn’t made as a reaction to the changes in the Budget but the family we portray in this drama would be clobbered by that.
“It’s a small farm, handed down through the family, and the land is really a character in the story. And it’s slightly under threat.”
A synopsis for the new drama from ITV reads: “The drama depicts the surreptitious invasion of the land our farmer cherishes, with devastating consequences, as his livelihood, homestead and family life are threatened by local county lines drugs dealers: urban gangs using the British countryside as a field of operations, moving drugs and money between their inner-city hubs and provincial areas.”
Speaking to ITV ahead of its premiere on Sunday, January 19, Clunes explained why he took on the role: “Ed Whitmore, the writer, and Marc Evans, the director approached us with it as an idea.
“This seemed like a story worth telling about the spread of the of the county lines drug business and the threat that it poses to people. I’m very happy to be working with Marc Evans and Ed Whitmore again after the success of Manhunt.
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“Out There couldn’t be more different from Doc Martin. It’s pretty dark, but definitely a story worth telling.”
He was also full of praise for his Out There co-star and on-screen son Louis Ashbourne Serkis, the son of Lord of the Rings star Andy Serkis and Alma’s Not Normal’s Lorraine Ashbourne.
“Louis is brilliant, he shows the vulnerability of his character so well,” Clunes said. “He is terrific, he is a real discovery.
“For a 19-year-old he is a really accomplished actor. He does loads. He comes from that acting dynasty. He has a very easy charisma to him that makes him hugely watchable, and he’s the nicest lad, a real gent.
“I can’t wait to see what he does next. He is clearly well-parented. He has impeccable manners.
“He is polite and courteous to everyone and conducts himself so well.”