Simon Clarke

Keen golfer and ex hockey player.
Fruit farmer in Tamworth with PYO and grows a few pumpkins

[No Farmers, No Food @NoFarmsNoFoods]

On the inheritance tax on family farms - farmers, all major political parties (apart from Labour), farming related businesses and rural communities are urging the Labour government to…

[No Farmers, No Food @NoFarmsNoFoods]

Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness delivers a great speech in the parliamentary inheritance tax on family farms debate:

It is possible to challenge one’s Government. I said to my Whips then that the best service we could do the Government was to prevent them from doing something stupid, harmful and alienating to voters. I hope that Government Members can see that, because the Opposition cannot change this. People outside say to me, “Can we get this changed?” It is actually up to Labour MPs. They have the majority. Democracy is not about having a majority and doing what one likes. Democracy is about listening and doing what the now Prime Minister told the NFU when he said:

“You deserve a Government that listens, that heeds early warnings”.

There are one or two warnings about. Listen, change: if the Government change, four years on, no one will remember the U-turn. Whatever civil servants say—they are always very keen to stick with a policy—if it is wrong, stop doing it. And this is wrong. In the minute and 20 seconds I have left, let me say why it is so wrong. We have touched on the various elements, but I am not sure we have pulled it all together.

We have a really peculiar group of businesspeople in this country; they are called farmers. They take a return on capital—the millions they have invested in their farms—that is typically less than 1%. There is nobody that I am aware of—no business I was ever involved in—that would remotely consider continuing in an industry that paid less than 1%. These farmers take a pittance and get up at 4 o’clock in the morning for the privilege. They look after the animals and it does not matter if they are ill; they cannot carry their employment rights and go, “I’m not well, I shouldn’t have to go out,” because the cows do not care: they have to go out and look after them, and then they get less than 1% return.

Those farmers, the most beneficent public-minded businesspeople in the whole country, then provide excellent food at among the lowest prices in Europe. If ever there were a business that we would not want to go and mess with, it is these—I should not say it, because I will make enemies of them.

We must understand how remarkable it is that there is a whole group of businesspeople who take practically nothing from their business, work all the hours God gives, and provide us with some of the finest food in the world at among the lowest prices in Europe. Why would we want to mess with that? Not only do they do that, but they brainwash their children from the earliest age so that they carry on doing it. These people are in indentured service to the nation, providing food while making very little profit. They do it willingly and, in fact, love it: it is their life. To go and mess with them out of some stupid, socialist spite is ridiculous and absurd, and Government Members know that—the hon. Member for North Northumberland certainly does, and he should lead his colleagues to tell the Chancellor to change course, just as we did in 2012 when George Osborne got it wrong.”

[Simon Clarke @SimClar47]

#NewProfilePic

[Simon Clarke @SimClar47]

Hi Tony. Fantastic photos. Hoping to come out in January. Where do you stay when you're in the Kruger - Buhala Lodge?

[Tony Johnstone @TonyJohnstone56]

It’s goodbye to Kruger Park after another great trip. Well, goodbye for a week anyway. Back to @LeopardCreekCC next week for the Dunhill Champs. It’s sandwiched between the Nedbank Golf Challenge this week @SunCityResortSA and the @AfrAsiaMRUOpen. What a great finish to 2024!!

[No Farmers, No Food @NoFarmsNoFoods]

Inheritance tax on family farms:
The facts.

[manorfarmfruits @manorfarmfruits]

🐣🦕This Easter has been filled with unforgettable adventures at Manor Farm Fruits! We were thrilled to welcome Phoebe, one of our Junior Dino Rangers! Dino Farm Adventure runs to the 7th of April! https://t.co/Tl6tTOyZ5l

[Simon Clarke @SimClar47]

@turbotechdog Looks like you've had a busy day!

[Simon Clarke @SimClar47]

@Mike_Fabricant I see that HS2 properties in a neighbouring village to your constituency are now coming on the market. I thought HS2 couldn't sell them until the railway was finally built - or have they changed the rules??

[Simon Clarke @SimClar47]

@MetMattTaylor Weather looks OK though. Which other courses have you played?

[Simon Clarke @SimClar47]

@DaveLynndawg @GaryLineker Soon to be rescinded by VAR (aka the BBC)?

[Simon Clarke @SimClar47]

@Mike_Fabricant Who proposed the Bill in the first place?

[manorfarmfruits @manorfarmfruits]

Looking for some inspiration for family fun at Easter? Look no further. 🐰

#easter #familyfun

[Simon Clarke @SimClar47]

@Titleist Leopard Creek

[@HintsVillageChurch @HintsVillageCh1]

Due to popular demand, our 2023 Bingo night with fish & chip supper is back! Join us Saturday 25th March at 7pm in Hints Village Hall for a great night, everyone is welcome and any profits go towards St Bart’s Church. See poster for details and how to book tickets. See you there!

[Simon Clarke @SimClar47]

@turbotechdog Excellent! A lot of happy customers then.

[Simon Clarke @SimClar47]

Car park looks a bit sticky. Ours has dried up a bit now thankfully. Has it been a successful event?

[Tom Wright @turbotechdog]

How it started and how it’s going 😝🎃 #pumpkins

[Simon Clarke @SimClar47]

@turbotechdog @manorfarmfruits Fingers crossed.

[manorfarmfruits @manorfarmfruits]

Great to host Natasha, Community Officer, from Morrison's at Tamworth on a quick farm tour to help increase food awareness and sourcing local food #Farm24 #localfood

[Farm Retail Association @farm_retail]

We are delighted to announce our finalists for PYO of the Year in the 2023 Farm Retail Awards!⭐️

🍓 Manor Farm Fruits
🍓 @KenyonHallFarm
🍓 @CammasHall
🍓 @craigiesfarm
🍓 Rectory Farm PYO

With thanks to our sponsor for this category @digitickets ⭐️

[Simon Clarke @SimClar47]

@SallyBundockBBC Hope it went well. Time to take it easy for a bit.