James May distances himself from Clarkson as he wades into farm tax row with request for fans
James May, 61, has made his stance clear on the potential of joining his friend and former co-presenter Jeremy Clarkson in protesting the Government’s new tax on farmers.
The former Top Gear presenter made the statement while inquiring about the details of the new policy on social media.
In her Autumn budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced an end to inheritance tax exemption for farms worth more than £1million – slapping farmers with a 20 per cent tax when trying to pass their farm on.
Responding to the furious row over the policy, May issued a challenge to Government ministers to visit his country pub and face questions from the public.
“I’d love to have Government ministers in for a pint. I believe the locals would have some interesting questions for them,” he wrote.
However, May declared “I’m not joining anything” when asked if he would support the growing protests against the tax.
The 61-year-old had earlier taken to social media to inquire about the “great farming debate” and details of the new inheritance tax – calling himself an “economics illiterate”.
The former Grand Tour presenter asked: “If a farm has a nominal value of, say, £3million but generates an income of only c. £40,000, how can it really be worth that much?”
Anticipating an animated response, May added: “This is not, bt dubs, a loaded question. I’m interested.”
One responder warned “I’d advise you not to join Clarkson’s rhetoric, mate or not mate” which prompted May to publicly distance himself from the movement.
In an attempt to explain, another user compared farms to “a big teddy that your family’s had for years. It doesn’t make any money, but it’s super special and worth a lot to everyone.”
“If someone says you have to pay a huge fee to keep it, your family might have to sell it. That’s what farmers are worried about with their farms,” they explained.
“Pillock,” the former Top Gear presenter responded bluntly, accusing their explanation of being “condescending”.
Soon after, the dialogue grew even less gentile – with one user exclaiming: “F***, you are dumb.”
May responded in kind, branding the poster a: “f****wit.”
Others were appalled at the 61-year-old’s candour in dealing with those answering his question, calling him “so rude”.
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After a few hours of engaging with fans, May came to the conclusion that “generational farms should be exempt” from inheritance tax.
However, he suggested that “if a succeeding generation stops farming or sells the land for development, they can be shafted the same as the rest of us”.
May’s distancing from the protest will come as a disappointment to Clarkson, who has become a champion of British farmers in recent years.
Yesterday, Clarkson joined huge numbers of farmers taking to the streets in London to protest the tax hike in rural Britain.
The 64-year-old presenter made a speech and rowed with the BBC while appearing in solidarity with fellow farm owners.