Jeremy Clarkson's 'thank you letters from benefit claimants' idea should go even further: Sarah Todd

NOW, The Yorkshire Post weekend edition remains an institution in our family. But being away from home – a very rare occurrence – meant that with no YP we had to make do with The Sunday Times.

Of course, we had Country Post withdrawal symptoms, but it was a joy to be able to read an especially excellent column from motoring correspondent turned farmer Jeremy Clarkson.

The piece he had penned centred on a wry look at the more than a million young people in this country who are not working. Not just this, but the frightening fact that they’re not actually looking for work.

In his own inimitable style he explained why those who do work, rather than those who get handed up to £194 a week for doing nothing, are starting to feel “a bit miffed” and went on to suggest an idea he has had.

Basically, he believes our new Prime Minister needs to insist that us taxpayers get something in return for financing those sat at home all day watching nonsense on their “massive vulgarsonic” televisions.

His suggestion is a thank you letter. Every week, when the benefits are paid, Clarkson muted the recipient is “given the email address of a randomly selected person who is getting up and going to work every day”.

As an aside, this correspondent would have made it a bit tougher – seen as they have all the time in the world – and would have given them a pen and paper to write a proper old-fashioned letter to add to their skillset.

But that’s splitting hairs, so back to Clarkson’s brainwave, which involves the benefits recipient being told that “unless a proper and genuine email is sent, thanking the working person for their generosity, the benefits will stop”.

He includes the caveat that a cursory “thanks mate” will not cut the mustard, that the missive must include details of what they have done with the £194 they got that week.

“I want effusiveness,” admits Clarkson. “I want to feel their gratitude.” Suggesting something like, “It is SO kind of you to go to work every day so that I don’t have to. Thanks to you I was able to buy an even bigger television this week.”

The column continues to wonder whether there might be another knock-on benefit, with Clarkson recalling that when he was forced to write thank you notes for Christmas presents the enforced letter writing outweighed the joy he had got from the gifts.

Thinking along these lines, he wonders whether some of the youngsters might decide that they don’t have anything wrong with them and would rather get a job.

This leads to an idea - wonder whether Mr Clarkson would be interested in using his Diddly Squat Farm as a co-ordination point? - that your own columnist has been mulling over for the past few weeks. Well, since the yellow peril of poisonous ragwort has appeared on seemingly every grass verge in the country.

When we first moved to where we live 25 years ago, we spent what seemed like forever picking ragwort. It was everywhere. But eventually it gave up the ghost and pretty much stopped coming back.

That is until this year, which obviously follows on from last summer when so many places copped out of getting rid on the pretext of schemes such as rewilding.

It’s not going to poison any animals on the ungrazed verges they say, where moths or whatever are enjoying its pollen, but yes it will when the seeds blow over into pastureland. Horses, in particular, have slow and agonising deaths from ragwort poisoning.

While pulling three wheelbarrow-fulls out the other day, the thought had occurred that it could be something illegal migrants could be set on to do. The backbreaking work might do something to dilute the land of milk and honey image they all seem to have of our country.

Perhaps something like the old Manpower Services Commission could be rekindled. Thinking aloud, there is maybe a memory of my parents, who farm on the North York Moors, once having a vanful of prisoners came to mend some stone walls. They did a great job

But now, having read Mr Clarkson’s column, the two schemes could be merged. Don’t want to write a thank you letter? Well, what about ragwort or litter picking? Street cleaning, shopping or gardening for old folks and those in need.

Some would hate it and skive, but if just one person found a sense of worth from putting in a day’s graft it would be well worth the effort. There is an old saying, that seems fitting, that without hard work nothing thrives but weeds.