Jeremy Clarkson criticized the UK government's treatment of businesses during the Tory party conference, questioning why anyone would start a new enterprise given current economic conditions. Entrepreneurs like Steve Perez from Global Brands echoed Clarkson’s concerns, citing significant tax increases and regulatory burdens since Labour took power, including a £25 billion national insurance tax hike. Matthew Elliott of the Jobs Foundation and Andreas Adamides of Helm also supported Clarkson's stance, highlighting how these financial pressures are impacting job creation and business growth across various sectors.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Jeremy Clarkson, known for his work on Top Gear and hosting Clarkson's Farm, criticized the Labour government at the Tory party conference, questioning why anyone would start a business in the UK now. He specifically mentioned considering opening another pub but not in Britain due to tough conditions. Entrepreneur Steve Perez, CEO of Hooch and VK maker Global Brands, agreed with Clarkson, saying the current government is treating businesses poorly, viewing them as a cash cow for taxes.
Perez highlighted recent tax hikes including a £25 billion national insurance levy and inheritance taxes on family-owned firms and farms, totaling around £75 billion in tax increases since Labour took power. These comments reflect frustration among business owners regarding the economic environment under current government policies.
Written for “Jeremy Clarkson Business Remarks” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.50, but 2 quote(s) could not be found in the article and the other 1 are attributed speech rather than the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 61743: no verified evidence · logged 2026-10-07
Entrepreneurs have backed Jeremy Clarkson’s warning over how hard it is to start a business in Andy Burnham’s Britain.
asserted
it → back → Britain
On the main stage of the Tory party conference this week, the former Top Gear presenter turned farmer and publican attacked Labour’s treatment of farming and enterprise.
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presenter → turn → farming
Suggesting he may open another pub – but not in Britain – the Clarkson's Farm star asked: ‘Why would anybody set up a business in this country right now?’
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anybody → suggest → country
The comments, ahead of what looks set to be another bleak Budget for business this month, won the backing of employers still reeling from £75billion of tax hikes since Labour came to power.
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Labour → set → power
Jeremy Clarkson made a surprise appearance at the Tory party conference where he attacked Labour's treatment of farming and business
Hotelier and entrepreneur Steve Perez, chief executive and founder of Hooch and VK maker Global Brands, said: ‘He's absolutely bang on.
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He → make → Hooch
I mean, this government in particular has had a smash-and-grab on business.
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government → mean → business
They just see it as a cash cow to get more money for their schemes.’
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They → see → schemes
He pointed to the £25billion national insurance tax raid on employment and inheritance tax raid on family-owned firms and farms.
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He → point → firms
‘There’s no way I would buy another hotel or pub because it’s just not worth the hassle,’ said Perez.
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Perez → ’ → hotel
‘I think Rachel Reeves got it all wrong; she didn’t really understand business.
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she → think → business
And as Jeremy Clarkson said, they didn’t really know what they’re doing.
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they → say → what
I really hope John Healey will have some common sense and understanding of business.’
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Healey → hope → business
Matthew Elliott, president of the Jobs Foundation, a charity that supports business in creating work, said: ‘Jeremy Clarkson has asked why anyone would set up a business in the UK, and anyone who has watched his show will struggle to answer.
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who → support → show
‘Hospitality is often the first rung on the jobs ladder, so with even the likes of Clarkson under pressure, it's no surprise that nearly a million young people are stuck in their bedrooms.
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people → stick → bedrooms
‘Government schemes to help people into work are welcome, but the more meaningful step would be to cut costs and make it easier for businesses to create those jobs in the first place.’
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businesses → help → place
Andreas Adamides, chief executive of Helm, which represents more than 400 founders of fast-growing firms, said: ‘Jeremy Clarkson has put his finger on a problem I hear about from founders every week.
'
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I → represent → founders
A £146,000 national insurance rise is not a problem unique to a celebrity's pub, and thousands of growing businesses face the same pressure.
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thousands → grow → pressure
‘Clarkson says the rise landed just as his pub reached profitability, which is exactly where it hurts growing businesses most.
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it → say → businesses
For a scale-up, higher employers' national insurance can mean hiring five people instead of ten.
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insurance → mean → people
‘Founders are being squeezed at both ends, paying more to employ people and keeping less when they sell, and now there is talk of capital gains tax rising again.
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tax → squeeze → less
'Nearly 6,000 business owners have already left in two years, and we should be persuading them to stay.'
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we → leave → them
He added: 'Successful scale-ups create jobs and the tax revenue Britain depends on, so backing them is not special treatment.
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backing → add → them
The Budget is the Prime Minister's chance to show founders that if they build something here, Britain wants them to stay.’
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them → show → something
The comments came after analysis showed billionaires with £120billion to their names have fled high-tax Britain since Labour came to power and there could be worse to come.
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Labour → come → power
Figures from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index laid bare the vast sums of money and assets behind the exodus of the super-rich over the past two years in what was described last night as ‘a disaster for the country’.
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what → lay → country
Luke Johnson, the entrepreneur and co-owner of Gail’s Bakery, said: ‘It is a disaster for the country that big taxpayers and important investors are leaving.
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taxpayers → say → that
‘They help fund public services and create jobs, and their exits will create a growing hole in the national finances.
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exits → help → finances
‘We should be attracting talent and wealth, not alienating it.’
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We → attract → it
Hugh Osmond, the former Pizza Express entrepreneur, said: ‘It’s what we all said would happen and Labour didn’t believe it.
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Labour → say → it
Too high tax – big taxpayers leave.
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taxpayers → leave → ?
Protect Your Money – sign-up to our six-week plan
The Budget is coming – but are you prepared?
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you → protect → plan
Sign up to our six-week plan and Simon Lambert and his team of financial experts will reveal how to Protect Your Money.
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Lambert → sign → Money
If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission.
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This → take → commission
These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting.
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they → choose → team
This does not affect our editorial independence.
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This → affect → independence
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