Jeremy Clarkson leads farmers’ demands to scrap ‘bureaucratic bulldozer’ red tape

Jeremy Clarkson and Lord Botham are leading farmers who are demanding to be freed from a "bureaucratic bulldozer" of red tape in the countryside.

In a letter to Liz Truss signed by almost 5,000 rural voters including celebrities, gamekeepers and farmers say that they are “sick of the mountains of regulations which seek to micromanage every acre”.

It was sent on Monday amid attacks from conservation charities on the Prime Minister’s latest policies which have promised to cut environmental red tape.

In contrast to the National Trust and the RSPB, the group led by Mr Clarkson are demanding a halving of the volume of regulation impacting the countryside by the next election.

Allan Lamb and David Gower, the former English cricketers, Gareth Wyn Jones, the star of BBC farming shows, singer Feargal Sharkey, Olympic rower Alex Story, radio host Nick Ferrari and writer and landowner Jamie Blackett are among those who have added their signature to the letter.

“For years the bureaucratic bulldozer has been trampling over the countryside infuriating millions of us. It has cost jobs and created misery,” it says.

“Downing Street has to put it into reverse gear if it wants the support of rural voters.”

Ms Truss is told that they are “happy” with “big targets” which aim to ensure “that the streams in our valleys are crystal clear and our uplands carpeted with heather”.

It continues: “If you want more food in the shops, we will do it. More hedges - consider it done. More buzzards? Great - we will lean on anyone in our community who takes them out.

“But we are sick of the mountains of regulations which seek to micromanage every acre. We have had enough of know-nothing officials imposing rules out of a misplaced belief in their own competence.

“They breed paperwork for a living while the rest of us have real work to do.”

It has also been signed by 4,716 other people living in the countryside including 1,995 farmers and 117 gamekeepers.

It comes after Hilary McGrady, the director general of the National Trust, accused the Government of starting “a free-for-all for nature and heritage” with the creation of new investment zones in which planning laws including strict environmental protections will be relaxed.

The RSPB described the plans as an “attack on nature” and criticised ministers over rumours that they are considering scrapping the Environment Land Management Scheme, under which farmers would be paid to restore natural habitats and rewild the countryside.

Rural votes 'will be vital' in next election

The letter, led by the former Top Gear presenter, warns Downing Street that rural votes will be “vital” in the next election and “era of central planning of the countryside by homo arrogantissimus in Whitehall is over”.

“We will no longer passively watch officials seeking to appease the insatiable demands of a few self-righteous campaigners. There are more of us and we are more determined,” they said.

Adding that the letter would be copied to constituency MPs it concludes: “If anyone tries to ignore us, we will pursue them like hungry German Shepherds let off-leash during lambing season.”

On Monday, the Department of Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) said that they were looking at how best to deliver schemes, particularly in light of the pressure’s farmers are facing because of the global economic situation.

A spokesperson said: “Our Growth Plan sets out our commitment to support farmers and land managers by reviewing farm regulation and increasing investment and innovation in the sector, in turn boosting food security and driving economic growth.

“We will work closely with industry as we do this to help identify where we can ease pressures on farmers, and later this autumn we will set out our plans to maximise the long-term productivity, resilience, competitiveness, and environmental stewardship of the British countryside.”