A number of Newsnight viewers have taken aim at the show for its booking of former Labour MP Jim Murphy on the night of the farmers’ protests in London.
On Tuesday, the likes of Jeremy Clarkson and Kaleb Cooper joined thousands of farmers in Westminster to protest against the Labour government’s proposed changes to inheritance tax for farmers.
The proposals set out in the Budget will end the inheritance tax exemption that has helped family farms pass through generations and from 2026, farmers with land worth more than £1 million will no longer be able to leave their farms to their children tax-free.
As one of the most high-profile figures at the protests, Clarkson spoke to Newsnight’s Victoria Derbyshire where he reiterated his hopes for a government U-turn but the pair clashed when the BBC star claimed Clarkson had only bought his farm to avoid paying inheritance tax in the first place.
The fiery interview led to Clarkson slamming Derbyshire and the BBC for being the “mouthpiece” for an “infernal” Labour government, while the Newsnight star took to X to defend her conduct at the protest and brand herself and attendees as “polite”.
However, hours later, a fresh row emerged when the first guest on the Newsnight panel, Murphy, took aim at the Clarkson’s Farm star.
The Labour MP smirked when introduced by Derbyshire and asked about Clarkson’s comments as he claimed to have never seen the 64-year-old on TV before.
“I think the farmers are pretty ill-served by him being one of their spokespeople,” Murphy decried, and when asked why by Derbyshire, he continued: “I think he’s rude, I think he’s aggressive.
“I’ve read he invested in a farm for inheritance tax reasons. I think it’s a disservice to the hundreds and thousands of hard-working farmers in the country.”
Murphy also added he “didn’t think the Labour Party would be unnerved” by Tuesday’s protest, claiming that the government faced a choice of “cut the NHS pretty drastically or introduce a set of taxes over assets”.
The former Labour MP’s defence of the government continued as he added that the “butcher, the baker and the candle stick maker” all have to pay inheritance tax if they pass their businesses on and Labour is saying farmers shouldn’t be exempt from that.
Former Conservative MP Sir Jake Berry was also in the studio to counteract Murphy’s stance and he soon interjected to correct his fellow guest, pointing out that business property relief and agricultural property relief were pivotal in protecting people’s assets.
“I was at the protest today and I was speaking to farmers, and I think you’re wrong actually. I think Jeremy Clarkson is warmly regarded by the farming community,” Berry hit back.
“Whether you like what he stands for or he says, he draws public attention to the plight of farmers… it’s a sector under massive pressure. It doesn’t feel like the Labour Party has got a grip on the number of people who are gonna be affected by this. It feels like a stab in the dark.”
While Berry and Murphy expressed differing points of view, the barbed comments towards Clarkson prompted some viewers to hit out – especially given the complaints about impartiality made against Derbyshire’s interview with the former Top Gear star and the fact he wasn’t able to respond to Murphy’s remarks.
On X, one viewer slammed: “Jim Murphy on #Newsnight smugly boasts he’s never seen Jeremy Clarkson on TV, didn’t know he has a farm & states Starmer’s gov will be unperturbed by #FarmersProtests. Such detached/aloof even snobbish complacency, with not even a smidgen of empathy, that’ll be Labour’s downfall.”
A second similarly blasted: “Oh dear, Jim Murphy on #Newsnight starts by calling Clarkson aggressive and then starts a really smug, passive aggressive criticism of him. Totally incorrect way to try and get people to change their view on farmers, in fact it’s more likely to see people view this as a class war.”
“No one will ever take advice from Jim Murphy #Newsnight,” a third hit out before a fourth mocked: “#Newsnight who is Jim Murphy? Anyone actually heard of him? Conversely I reckon most people have heard of Jeremy clarkson.”
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And a fifth similarly critiqued: “Jim Murphy on #Newsnight says ‘it’s the first time I’ve ever seen #Clarkson on television…’ Says he’s read ‘he’s invested in a farm’. 5 seconds after claiming to be shocked at Victoria Derbyshire informing him that Jeremy Clarkson is a farmer. Absolute smug confused drip.”
However, there was a handful who backed Murphy for speaking out against the 64-year-old: “Well put, Jim Murphy. Farmers have Clarkson as their mouthpiece. Poor farmers! All my words. #Newsnight.”
Prior to the Newsnight episode, Derbyshire felt the need to take to X, formerly Twitter, to address some users’ concerns with the footage of her and Clarkson’s divisive interview.
One furious X user had blasted the BBC star: “So. @vicderbyshire deliberately misdirects attention to @JeremyClarkson rather than focus upon the purpose of the demonstration? You could have asked any other farmer there about their personal circumstances or grievance. You didn’t.
“She went straight for the character assassination of one of the most popular men in Britain. Didn’t you? @WilliamHill and @Betfred have closed the book on who you voted for at the general election. And I pay a license fee for this partial, personal sniping? Grow up.”
Derbyshire responded to the social media user directly, replying: “See my timeline… I spoke to a bunch of other farmers of course.”
The BBC interviewer had spoken to other farmers attending the protest against Labour’s proposed measures, which prompted Derbyshire to double down on her claims that she attempted to get a broad range of voices.
“I interviewed a whole (bunch) of people today!!!” the Newsnight host said on Tuesday. “I haven’t put them all up – got to write the prog and prep for some prerecorded ints / some we will play on NN tonight – I’ve talked to two young women on TikTok – variety of people etc.”
However, another hit out at the interviewer’s conduct once more: “Dear Victoria, You looked terrified when dealing with a group of British citizens you have never interacted with before.
“They are kindness itself. Please listen to them and report their concerns with honesty. I thought you had been given a very dodgy brief by the BBC today.”
Defending her position in the interviews she conducted – including with Clarkson – Derbyshire responded: “Hi mary am not terrified of anything or anyone [smiling emoji]. Everyone was really polite and courteous today (including me!)” (sic)
