Business

Jeremy Clarkson has sparked a fresh debate about the pressures facing British agriculture after delivering a blunt response to a social media user who blamed Brexit for the struggles of UK farmers.

The exchange followed a video Clarkson recorded in support of the farming advocacy campaign No Farmers, No Food, in which he called on the next government to put farming higher up the political agenda.

In the video, filmed on his phone, Clarkson said he wanted to see ministers prioritise agriculture and address what he described as a contradiction in policy. “We’ve been asked to diversify,” he said, “and when we try to do that, the local authorities tell us we can’t – and that needs addressing.”

The comments prompted a flurry of responses on X, formerly Twitter. One user suggested Clarkson should align himself with Reform UK to act as an intermediary between farmers and policymakers. Another took a very different view, arguing that Brexit was at the root of the sector’s problems, claiming that farms had lost EU subsidies and that it had become cheaper for retailers to source food from the continent.

Clarkson responded curtly to that claim, replying: “Oh dear. You don’t seem to have grasp of reality.”

The remark triggered a wider discussion among users about the future of farming, food security and rural policy in Britain. Several commentators urged greater support for domestic producers, with some even calling for Clarkson to take on a formal political role. Messages ranged from appeals to “always buy local” to tongue-in-cheek suggestions that the television presenter should be appointed agriculture minister.

Others echoed Clarkson’s frustration with the planning system, highlighting what they see as a double bind for farmers who are encouraged to diversify their businesses but then blocked by planning rules from doing so. Questions were also raised about land use, with some users asking why farmers face restrictions on what they can grow or build on land they own.

The No Farmers, No Food campaign was founded by James Melville, who grew up on a family farm in Scotland. The account is run collectively by farmers across the UK and regularly features contributions from high-profile figures speaking out on agricultural issues.

Clarkson, who has become a prominent voice on farming through his work on Clarkson’s Farm, has repeatedly argued that the sector is being squeezed by rising costs, restrictive regulation and policy decisions that fail to reflect the realities of running a farm. His latest intervention underlines how emotive – and politically charged – the future of British agriculture has become.

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Jeremy Clarkson dismisses Brexit criticism as farmers’ anger grows

Russell & Bromley, the 150-year-old luxury footwear and accessories brand, could vanish from the UK high street after a proposed takeover by Next that is expected to lead to the closure of all 37 of its stores.

Around 450 jobs are understood to be at risk under a deal that would see Next acquire only the Russell & Bromley brand and intellectual property, while the retailer’s physical estate is wound down.

Next is working alongside stock clearance specialist Retail Realisation, which is expected to oversee store closures and a fire sale of remaining inventory if the deal completes. Retail Realisation is linked to Modella Capital, a fast-growing player in high street restructurings.

Founded in 1880 in Eastbourne, Russell & Bromley was born out of the marriage of Elizabeth Russell and George Bromley, both from shoemaking families. The business has remained family-owned for five generations and is currently run by Andrew Bromley.

The potential break-up marks another chapter in the rapid reshaping of the UK retail landscape, as brands with long trading histories struggle under the combined pressure of weak consumer confidence, rising costs and structural changes to the high street.

Modella Capital, via Retail Realisation, has emerged as a prominent force behind recent retail rescues and collapses. Last year, it acquired WHSmith’s 480 high street stores in a £76 million deal, rebranding the chain as TGJones while being prevented from closing large numbers of shops under the terms of the sale.

The group has also invested in Paperchase and Tie Rack, bought arts and crafts retailer Hobbycraft in 2024, and acquired The Original Factory Shop and accessories chain Claire’s. However, both of those businesses were placed into administration last week, putting around 2,500 jobs at risk.

In announcing those administrations, Modella cited what it described as “highly adverse government fiscal policies”, alongside high inflation and subdued consumer demand.

For Next, the proposed Russell & Bromley deal fits a well-established strategy. Over the past decade, the retailer has snapped up distressed or underperforming brands including Cath Kidston, Joules and Seraphine, often retaining the brand while exiting loss-making physical retail.

Unlike many of its former rivals, Next has avoided major setbacks on the high street. While names such as Debenhams and Topshop collapsed, Next has successfully pivoted towards younger consumers and a stronger digital-led model.

The group raised its profit forecast again last week after a stronger-than-expected Christmas trading period, its fifth upgrade in the past year. Sales in the nine weeks to 27 December rose 10.6 per cent year on year, with UK sales up 5.9 per cent — ahead of expectations.

In a trading update, Next said performance benefited from improved stock availability compared with last year, when global freight disruption and supply issues in Bangladesh weighed on sales.

Russell & Bromley, Next, Retail Realisation and Modella Capital have been approached for comment.

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Russell & Bromley faces high street exit as Next takeover puts 450 jobs at risk

The UK jobs market ended 2025 on a weak footing, with both permanent and temporary hiring falling in December and unemployment already sitting at a four-year high.

A closely watched labour market survey by KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) shows that permanent staff placements dropped to a four-month low at the end of the year, while temporary roles also declined. Vacancies continued to fall and the availability of workers rose sharply, underlining a market that is loosening rather than rebounding.

The figures suggest that the uncertainty created by November’s Budget is still weighing heavily on employers. Confidence among businesses and households fell in the run-up to the fiscal event as firms braced for higher taxes and rising employment costs.

Separate data published by the REC last week showed that most employers do not expect a meaningful increase in hiring during 2026. Businesses remain constrained by higher payroll costs, including increases to the national living wage and the impact of lower National Insurance thresholds.

Neil Carberry, chief executive of the REC, said December’s survey pointed to a further deterioration compared with November, when the Budget was announced late in the month. While the overall pace of decline in placements was slightly less severe than earlier in the winter, permanent hiring fell at its fastest rate since August.

“Making this a better year for hiring will require a focus on rebuilding business confidence,” Carberry said. “With the Budget now behind us, firms need a clear and credible direction from government — from the industrial strategy to a more pragmatic approach to the Employment Rights Act, which is worrying many employers.”

The slowdown comes as unemployment has already reached 5.1 per cent in the final quarter of last year, the highest level in four years. Economists surveyed by The Times believe the jobless rate could rise further, potentially reaching 5.5 per cent in 2026 — a level not seen for more than a decade.

Despite the softening labour market and sluggish economic growth, most economists and traders expect the Bank of England to cut interest rates no more than twice this year. Lower borrowing costs would help ease the cost of hiring and investment, but policymakers remain cautious amid persistent inflationary pressures.

The Bank of England’s latest survey of decision-makers shows that businesses expect to reduce headcount in 2026, while wage settlements are forecast to edge down only marginally, from 3.8 per cent to 3.7 per cent.

That tension is reflected in the REC data, which showed pay for permanent staff rising at the fastest pace since May, suggesting inflationary pressure has not fully disappeared. Temporary pay also increased in December after stagnating in the previous two months, although overall wage growth remains below its long-term average.

Regionally, the Midlands was the strongest performer and the only part of England to record growth in temporary placements. Hiring continued to fall in London and across much of the north and south of England.

Meanwhile, recruitment firm Morgan McKinley reported that vacancies in London’s financial services sector fell 16 per cent in the final quarter of 2025, although overall job numbers in the sector were still up 16 per cent year on year — highlighting how uneven the labour market has become.

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Jobs market stalls as permanent and temporary hiring both fall