Jeremy Clarkson asks ‘why would anyone start a business in Britain?’ as he blasts Burnham’s Labour at Tory conference

16 comments 16 Next JEREMY Clarkson has threatened to open his next pub abroad after asking why anyone would start a business in Britain under Labour. The Clarkson’s Farm star said soaring taxes , energy bills and red tape were piling pressure on pubs and farmers. TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson and Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins attend day two of the Conservative Party Conference Credit: Getty Jeremy Clarkson question why anyone would want to set up a business in Britain Credit: AFP Advertisement Making a surprise appearance at at Tory conference in Birmingham, he said: “Why would anybody set up a business in this country right now?” The telly legend revealed he had been considering opening a second pub but suggested he would now rather take the idea overseas. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. He said: “I’ll see if I can do it abroad somewhere. I probably won’t, but I’m dreaming of it.” And in a dig at Labour’s planned migrant camp in Piddington, Oxfordshire, he quipped: “I might have to go to Piddington, that’s abroad, isn’t it?” READ MORE ON JEREMY CLARKSON DOG HOUSE Baffled 'dogger' caught by Top Gear legend went 'you're Jeremy Clarkson!' BRANCHING OUT Clarkson backs Instagram influencer for Gardener's World after Monty Don exit Residents there staged a symbolic referendum last month in which they voted to “leave” the UK in protest at plans to house asylum seekers at a nearby former military base. Clarkson said costs at his Farmer’s Dog pub were rising at an “almost unbelievable rate”. He revealed its National Insurance bill had jumped by £146,000, while its fuel costs had risen by another £30,000 following the crisis involving Iran . He said: “Just when you get it to profitability, along they come and say right your National Insurance has gone up by £140,000.” Advertisement Most read in The Sun JET SCARE British Airways flight drops 28,000ft and declares emergency off UK coast JAIL SHOCK Prison boss ‘oversaw FIVE botched executions’ before resigning over Christa Pike NOT A PENNY King refuses to foot legal bill for shamed Andrew’s High Court police battle DEATH RIDDLE Brit who was found dead in Italy attended 'cult gathering with sex games' Clarkson, who has been a persistent critic of Labour’s inheritance tax changes for family farms, also warned owners could be forced to sell land to meet the bill. Labour ended unlimited 100 per cent inheritance tax relief on agricultural and business property from April this year, initially setting the full-relief allowance at £1million. But ministers partially U-turned following months of furious protests from farmers, raising the threshold to £2.5million – or up to £5million between spouses – before the changes came into force. Qualifying assets above the allowance now receive 50 per cent relief, leaving them facing an effective inheritance tax rate of up to 20 per cent, which can be paid interest-free over ten years. The Government says around 85 per cent of estates claiming agricultural property relief this year will pay no extra inheritance tax as a result of the reforms. Advertisement But Clarkson said ministers failed to understand that farms were different from other assets because families often spent generations learning how to work the same land. He said: “It makes perfect sense for the way the countryside looks and our food supply system for farmers to pass it on to the only people who know how to do it, which is your kids.” Clarkson said farmers were facing a “relentless” barrage of pressures from tax, energy costs and events overseas. He joked: “Not every farmer has a quiz show to host on ITV .” And he called for a bonfire of rural red tape, arguing most farmers wanted to preserve their land for future generations. Advertisement RECOMMENDED STORIES He said: “If you just left us alone, I’m pretty certain the countryside would be a lot better than it is now.” 16 comments 16