Jeremy Clarkson has been sacked from the farmers' anti-inheritance tax campaign after addressing their rally while 'off his trolley' on painkillers.
The Clarkson’s Farm host said he was given the heave-ho from the battle to overturn the new tax lax by the National Farmers’ Union before he had even left the stage at their London march last week.
He put his performance down to a cocktail of codeine and paracetamol he had taken beforehand to numb the pain from a slipped disc.
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Clarkson, 64, admitted he could 'probably could have given a better account of myself' when he clashed on camera with the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire over the number of farmers who would be hit by the Government’s new rule.
But he said he was hampered by the 'fog of painkillers'.
He said he only agreed to address the 20,000 farmers at the rally to give his reality show some 'television gold'.
The former Top Gear presenter said he wrote his speech on the way to the podium which was 'not easy as my head was full of flowers and summer breezes'.
He said: "I’m not sure my speech was terribly good because before I’d even left the stage I was approached by Tom Bradshaw, the new boss of the National Farmers’ Union, who made it plain he didn’t want me representing farmers on this inheritance tax issue any more.
"I can see where he’s coming from of course. I’m like blotting paper to the Derbyshires of this world and that’s not helpful.’’
Afterwards Clarkson - who admitted he had gone against medical advice to take part following emergency heart surgery - found himself stranded after a security guard waltzed off with his car key.
"While that was being sorted out I had time to reflect on what I’d achieved by being there,’’ he said.
"My support for farmers had somehow enraged Victoria, I’d been fired as a spokesman and my doctor would never speak to me again.
"The farmers, though? That’s the main thing. What did the day achieve for them? If I’m honest, I have to say not much.
"The Labourites in charge have held their views about property being theft since they joined the sixth-form debating society, and they aren’t going to change their minds just because 20,000 people in sturdy shoes came to London to be polite and courteous for a couple of hours.
"I wish the NFU well. I really do. Labour’s tax changes really are terribly cruel and will affect some of the hardest working, most underpaid and under-appreciated people in the land.
"Everything possible must be done to force the government to change its mind. That’s why I’m sitting here now wondering if it may soon be time to form a splinter group - a provisional wing, if you will.
"If anyone out there fancies doing this give me a call. And when my security team has found the missing car key and my back doesn’t hurt quite so much I’ll be there alongside you, doing whatever it is that needs to be done.’’
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