Jeremy Clarkson's farming concerns addressed by MPs as he fears Diddly Squat closure

Jeremy Clarkson's farming concerns have reached the attention of Environment Secretary Steve Barclay who today announced that he vows to make it easier for farmers to diversify. Car enthusiast turned farmer Jeremy has been documenting his struggles with farming ever since he took over the land he bought in 2008 five years ago.

In a recent column with The Times, the 63-year-old admitted he was concerned about farmers after subsidies had been "cut to the bone". He shared: "They can't make anything approximating to a living wage without government help, and they can't put up prices because the supermarket system doesn't allow it."

Jeremy has also been at the centre of planning rows with the council over expanding his Diddly Squat Farm, which has resulted in the closure of his restaurant. Mr Barclay has now told MPs that he was in "very advanced discussions" with Communities Secretary Michael Gove on extending permitted development rights, which allow certain changes to take place without having to make a planning application.

Speaking in the Commons, he shared: "My focus and the farming minster's focus is on food production and food security, and ensuring that is viable for our farmers. But diversification is also an important part, so I'm in very advanced discussions with [Mr Gove] on extending permitted development rights... that a certain very famous farmer has raised in terms of his frustrations in Oxfordshire."

"So I want to streamline permitted developments and make it easier for farmers to diversify, but, first and foremost, farmers want to produce food and that is my key focus."

Mr Barclay went on to say he regularly engaged with members of the National Farmers' Union who have voiced their concerns and added: "Farmers don't know where they're going or how they're going to face the future because there is no plan under this incompetent administration."

Last week, the MP met with Dartmoor farmers and other local stakeholders in Tavistock to discuss working together to ensure farming voices are heard.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, after the meeting, he told fans it was a "really positive discussion" and that they would be responding to the Dartmoor independent review.

Barclay has also said he's been "very clear" with the Royal Payments Agency that a "more trusting relationship" is needed in terms of payments.

Additionally, the MP revealed he is working with the National Audit Office to determine how they could "shift the relationship to one built more on trust and where payments go out in a more expedited fashion".

Elsewhere in his column, Jeremy slammed those who called for him to use shipping containers to grow his farm produce.

The Clarkson's Farm star said he wanted to build a small stone barn to grow mushrooms, but claimed his desires had been frowned upon from many who suggested he should give the money to hard-working families instead.

Jeremy went on to say he refused to use a shipping container mainly because he was "running out of the damn things".

He added: "We have one at the farm shop which is used for storage and one lying round in a field that’s used to house chemicals and two more which are welded together to create a farm kitchen. Honestly, my yard looks like the foyer at Maersk’s world headquarters.

“And I’m not alone. Every time you are outside a city centre railway station or on a Cornish coastal path, and you fancy a cup full of piping hot Israeli free peace coffee, and a vegan whelk, the man with the tattoo and the George Galloway T-shirt who serves it to you will be standing in a shipping container that he’s painted in all the colours of the rainbow.”

In his book Pigs Might Fly, released in October, Jeremy admitted he had "one last hope" at making things work.

He explained: "It would be easy for me to let the brambles and badgers take over my farmland and to sit back and watch the deer and squirrels eat all the trees in my woods. Which is why this morning, I decided to plant my game covers with mustard. It’s my last roll of the dice."

On his plan potentially not working out, he added: "I don’t even want to think about it. It hurts my knees and my outgoings this year are truly terrifying, even for me with four other income streams. So I can’t hand it back to nature and I daren’t move forwards."