Jeremy Clarkson has revealed plans to set up a new pub abroad during a surprise appearance at the Conservative Party conference.
The former Top Gear presenter swiped at Labour’s controversial inheritance tax reforms during the speech, saying his decision to branch outside of Britain is much down to the Government’s reforms.
He was asked by Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins onstage in Birmingham whether he would consider opening a pub in her constituency, Louth and Horncastle, in Lincolnshire.
The 66-year-old said: “It’s funny you should say that. I’m looking quite hard into the possibility of opening another pub.
“But I can give you all a piece of information right now, it’s not going to be in the UK.”
Fellow Clarkson’s Farm star Charlie Ireland, who joined him in Birmingham, asked whether this decision signals an intent to move abroad.
“No. I’m not leaving”, Mr Clarkson responded, adding: “Why would anybody set up a business in this country right now?”
He continued: “You go and find a country where you go, ‘that’s a good one, that will employ people and that will be good for farming and what have you’.
“We’ll see if we can do it abroad somewhere.”
He added: “I probably won’t. But I’m dreaming of it.”
Jeremy Clarkson says it is his ‘dream’ to set up a new farm – but he would not have it in Britain
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Clarkson joked that setting up shop in Piddington could be a possibility, given that the area is now ‘abroad’ – a reference to the Oxfordshire village’s symbolic independence referendum last month, held in protest against Government plans to house up to 1,256 male asylum seekers nearby.
The local parish council organised the referendum, with 312 votes cast. Of those, 285 were in favour of leaving.
The result was rounded off by 26 votes to remain part of Britain, while one ballot was spoiled.
Despite the show of mutiny, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy confirmed the Government would not reconsider its proposal to house migrants in the area.
Clarkson’s first pub, the Farmer’s Dog, opened to huge fanfare
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Announcing the result, parish council vice-chair Susannah Parden said: “We are Piddington, the village that roars.”
Parish council chair Tim McNally added: “This is an example of democracy in operation.
“We went into this village hall as the underdogs – we had a plucky idea. We have given a message to the world.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he understood the village’s “strength of feeling”, but stressed the need for fairness across the country.
Jeremy Clarkson appeared onstage at the Conservative Party conference
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“The only thing to do is to get the numbers down, the number of crossings down,” he said.
“And they are significantly down. They are now at a seven-year low.
“We also made a commitment to people to end the use of hotels to house refugees and asylum seekers, and that commitment needs to be honoured, and I think the vast majority of people say, ‘Yeah, that really does need to proceed.’”
Clarkson appeared at the Tory conference against a backdrop of his fierce opposition to Labour’s inheritance tax plans.
The Government’s decision in 2024 to impose higher inheritance taxes on farming land did not take into account the potential impact on family farms, the British television icon argued.
He said: “I think they didn’t understand it when they introduced it. With a farm it’s completely different because you’d have to sell a bit of it, making it even less profitable, or you’d sell the whole lot.
“It makes perfect sense for the way the countryside looks and our food supply system for farmers to pass it onto the only people who know how to do it, which is your kids.”
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch is expected on Wednesday to unveil plans to slash inheritance tax.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the controversial changes in 2024
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GB NEWSInheritance tax of 40 per cent is levied on all estates with property worth more than £500,000. As it stands, a couple can combine their allowances to pass on up to £1million to their children.
The Government watered down its proposals in December after a backlash by farmers, with the planned threshold increasing from £1million to £2.5million.
Several more families have been dragged into tax bands by the thresholds being frozen for several years.
The Tories have stressed rumours surrounding a potential inheritance tax cut are “pure speculation”.
Mr Burnham has not hinted any change or U-turn on the issue after Rachel Reeves announced the sweeping changes in 2024.
The Government has said it was “determined to rebuild trust” with farmers and that most estates were unaffected by the tax hike.
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