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The Independent
17-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Michael Morpurgo recalls Putin encounter that made a ‘shiver go down my spine'
Michael Morpurgo has opened up about feeling notably uneasy after attending a 'strange' event with the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. The author, 81, who's best known for his children's novels War Horse Private Peaceful, and The Butterfly Lion, made a trip to Russia – where his books were popular – in 2002. During the visit, Morpurgo attended a party organised by Putin's first wife, now known as Lyudmila Ocheretnaya, as an international gathering of children's librarians. Speaking to The Times, Morpurgo said: 'I was at the Kremlin at a huge party with 400 librarians. Can you imagine our country offering this to librarians?' He recalled: 'Everything was gold, and there was vodka and caviar. All the first ladies, including Mrs [Cherie] Blair, made speeches and then there was a great roll of drums and in came Putin, striding down the carpet. 'I felt a shiver go down my spine because the manner of this reception was extraordinary and strange.' Elsewhere, Morpurgo praised Britain's prime minister Keir Starmer for not having the same bolshie attitude as Putin or the United States president Donald Trump. 'He's not a shouter and he's not a show-off,' the author said of Starmer. 'I'm fed up with show-offs. I don't care if they're from Russia or America or here. 'I want people who really do have some experience of the world, and have developed a care for other people,' he said, explaining what bothers him about Trump and Putin is their open 'disrespect' for others. 'If you start talking about other people as if they are less important, that their culture is less important, then you're on a road to confrontation,' he added. However, Morpurgo did admit he is angered by the Labour government's plans to drop the inheritance tax exemption for farmers. 'You don't have a go at the pensioners and the farmers,' he said. 'I know because I live in the middle of the farming culture. To threaten one particular group seems to me to be completely wrong.' He continued: 'It's done by people who are fundamentally urban, who don't really understand what the countryside is about.'Morpurgo added that Britain is too fond of social and geographical divisions. 'We exploit them. And there is a massive division between town and country,' he said. 'It's understandable: it's part of having our industrial revolution earlier than other countries,' he claimed. 'If you go to Italy or France, where their industrial revolution came rather later, where they are more in contact with their food, with their farmers, it's different. When French farmers have a protest there is considerable support among urban people.' It comes after the Labour Party was accused of 'holding farmers in contempt' after halting applications for a major post-Brexit payment scheme last week. In what has been dubbed a 'warm on farmers' Labour announced it would cancel the sustainable farming incentive (SFI), just six weeks before farmers are set to file their tax returns. Labour has already seen massive protests from farmers with hundreds of tractors descending on Westminster in recent weeks and the latest development threatens further action.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Labour's tractor tax proves ‘they do not understand the countryside'
Sir Michael Morpurgo has said Labour's family farm tax proves the party 'don't really understand what the countryside is about'. The children's novelist, who has lived on a farm in the village of Iddesleigh, Dorset, for the past 50 years, said the Government's reforms on inheritance tax are 'completely wrong'. Under new rules announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the October Budget, agricultural assets worth more than £1 million, which were previously exempt, will be liable to the 20 per cent tax. The announcement led to widespread protests from farming communities across the UK. More than 1,000 tractors pitched up at demonstrations outside Westminster. Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers' Union, said last month that the tax has wiped out hope for many farmers and that it threatens food security. The Government has refused to back down or modify the policy, despite intensive lobbying and widespread protests from farming and rural groups. Weather shocks, low profits and the move away from direct subsidies have created a crisis for farmers that could cause many to go out of profit by the end of the year, the NFU has said. Sir Michael, whose latest novel Spring is his first book for adults in almost 50 years, said of the reforms: 'You don't have a go at the pensioners and the farmers. I know because I live in the middle of the farming culture.' He continued: 'To threaten one particular group seems to me to be completely wrong. It's done by people who are fundamentally urban, who don't really understand what the countryside is about.' Sir Michael, 81, who is best known for books such as War Horse and The Butterfly Lion, also said Britain is full of sociological and geographical division. 'We exploit them,' he said. 'There is a massive division between town and country. It's understandable: it's part of having our industrial revolution earlier than other countries. 'If you go to Italy or France, where their industrial revolution came rather later, where they are more in contact with their food, with their farmers, it's different. 'When French farmers have a protest there is considerable support among urban people.' Despite the policy, Sir Michael declared himself a fan of Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Government. Discussing the Prime Minister, he said: 'He's not a shouter and he's not a show-off. I'm fed up with show-offs. 'I don't care if they're from Russia or America or here. I want people who really do have some experience of the world, and have developed a care for other people.' He also claimed Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have open 'disrespect' for others. 'If you start talking about other people as if they are less important, that their culture is less important, then you're on a road to confrontation.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Labour's tractor tax shows they do not understand the countryside, says Sir Michael Morpurgo
Sir Michael Morpurgo has said Labour's family farm tax proves the party 'don't really understand what the countryside is about'. The children's novelist, who has lived on a farm in the village of Iddesleigh, Dorset, for the past 50 years, said the Government's reforms on inheritance tax are 'completely wrong'. Under new rules announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the October Budget, agricultural assets worth more than £1 million, which were previously exempt, will be liable to the 20 per cent tax. The announcement led to widespread protests from farming communities across the UK. More than 1,000 tractors pitched up at demonstrations outside Westminster. Sir Michael, whose latest novel Spring is his first book for adults in almost 50 years, said of the reforms: 'You don't have a go at the pensioners and the farmers. I know because I live in the middle of the farming culture.' He continued: 'To threaten one particular group seems to me to be completely wrong. It's done by people who are fundamentally urban, who don't really understand what the countryside is about.' Sir Michael, 81, who is best known for books such as War Horse and The Butterfly Lion, also said Britain is full of sociological and geographical division. 'We exploit them,' he said. 'There is a massive division between town and country. It's understandable: it's part of having our industrial revolution earlier than other countries. 'If you go to Italy or France, where their industrial revolution came rather later, where they are more in contact with their food, with their farmers, it's different. 'When French farmers have a protest there is considerable support among urban people.' Despite the policy, Sir Michael declared himself a fan of Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Government. Discussing the Prime Minister, he said: 'He's not a shouter and he's not a show-off. I'm fed up with show-offs. 'I don't care if they're from Russia or America or here. I want people who really do have some experience of the world, and have developed a care for other people.' He also claimed Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have open 'disrespect' for others. 'If you start talking about other people as if they are less important, that their culture is less important, then you're on a road to confrontation.'
