Mr Clarkson has weighed in on the Green Party’s decision to select Sarah Wakefield as its candidate for the Makerfield by-election after the party’s original choice, Chris Kennedy, withdrew.
The 38-year-old Manchester councillor is the executive director of Eating Better, an environmental charity that has attracted criticism over its views on British farming.
A mother of two, Ms Wakefield previously stood for selection in Gorton and Denton earlier this year but lost out to Hannah Spencer, who later became the Green Party’s fifth MP.
The by-election was called after Labour MP Josh Simons stepped down from the seat.
Eating Better has hosted workshops encouraging participants to embrace “decolonial decision-making” and create more inclusive environments within British agriculture.
Material published by the charity urged people to recognise the advantages they may have benefited from and the barriers faced by others without those same opportunities.
The organisation also promoted a report by American activist Caroline J Sumlin examining what it described as “white supremacy culture” in farming and suggesting ways to address colonial legacies within the food sector.
The report listed traits such as “defensiveness”, “perfectionism” and “a sense of urgency” as examples of white supremacy culture.
Under a section titled “decoloniality”, it called for approaches that move beyond Western perspectives and place greater value on the knowledge of indigenous, marginalised and racialised communities.
Ms Wakefield also wrote the foreword to Eating Better’s “Nourishing Justice” report, which argued that Britain’s food system reflects and reinforces racial inequality where it exists in wider society.
The report claimed race plays a major role in shaping people’s experiences across the food system, from access to food and employment opportunities to representation in policy-making.
Farmer and broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson offered his verdict on Ms Wakefield in his latest column for The Sunday Times.
He suggested the Greens were helping clear the path for an Andy Burnham-backed Labour victory by selecting a candidate who appeared “completely mad” and possessed a “fully fledged degree in loony leftery”.
Clarkson also referenced the report backed by Ms Wakefield’s charity, claiming it effectively argued that farming is racist and that the entire food industry needs to be decolonised.
Taking another swipe at the left, he joked: “Potatoes are a classic example of cultural appropriation, unlike having dreadlocks or wearing a keffiyeh, which are not, obviously.”
But Ms Wakefield was not the only target of Clarkson’s criticism. He also aimed his fire at Andy Burnham.
After mocking Eating Better’s work, Clarkson wrote: “So there we are. Sarah Wakefield is a loony and if all goes well, no one will vote for her.
“Burnham will therefore win, become prime minister and set about reliving the socialistic glory days of the 1970s. Power cuts. Bankruptcies. Strikes. Rubbish piled high in the streets and dead rats everywhere. Perfection.”
Despite the criticism, Clarkson unexpectedly ended up backing the Green candidate, arguing that she has genuine real-world experience — something he said was lacking across Labour’s front bench.
Noting that the contest appears to be a straight fight between Labour and Reform UK, he concluded: “Can you imagine if the left-leaning people of Makerfield knew who Sarah was and what a decent, hardworking mother she is? Could she win?
“Probably not. But if she split the vote and caused Burnham to lose, he’d look like a massive a**e. And so would the idiot who gave up his job to make way for him.
“With that thought ringing in my head, I’ll finish by saying what the Green Party won’t: Go Sarah. Go.”
Ms Wakefield has defended her views and explained her position on decolonisation after facing criticism from parts of the farming community.
Speaking to the BBC, she said: “Decolonisation basically means we’re listening to marginalised voices in debates on issues like food.”
She also linked Britain’s heavy consumption of ultra-processed foods to multinational companies exploiting farmers in former colonies, arguing that this has contributed to growing levels of bowel cancer and childhood obesity.
A Green Party spokesman said Ms Wakefield was simply highlighting that fairer access to healthy food and a more equal food system would benefit public health.
