Key facts
- Nigel Farage plans to declare a "national emergency" on day one to pass government bills.
- Reform UK proposes MPs sit seven days a week to pass legislation.
- Robert Jenrick announced a Budget within the first 100 days, aiming to cut £80bn in annual government expenditure.
- Richard Tice proposed cutting household energy bills by £250 by removing carbon taxes on generators.
- Farage stated he would do "anything and everything" to ensure the first 100 days are successful.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has announced plans to declare a "national emergency" on his first day in office if his party wins an election. This measure would compel MPs to sit in parliament seven days a week, including through the summer, to pass government-drafted bills. Farage intends to address the country's perceived "woes" following years of Conservative and Labour governments.
At a speech at the Reform UK party conference, Farage is expected to criticize the Tories for "failing" over the past 14 years and to state that Andy Burnham "wants 10 more" years of issues. A Reform UK spokesman emphasized the urgency, stating, "Britain is in serious trouble. We don’t have time to wait around to fix it." The party has not yet confirmed if the King's Speech would occur on the first day of a Farage premiership.
Further proposals include ministers being sacked if they fail to meet party pledges within specified timeframes. Farage also indicated a strong resolve, stating that "if the Lords, judiciary or civil service get in our way they will discover just how determined we are." He pledged to do "anything and everything to make the first 100 days work."
Reform UK's economic spokesman, Robert Jenrick, told the conference that a Budget would be presented within the first 100 days. The plan includes cutting £80bn in annual government expenditure, which would allow for tax hikes and is projected to yield a £30bn gain to public finances through lower debt interest payments. Deputy leader Richard Tice announced plans to cut household energy bills by £250 by scrapping carbon taxes on generators and removing other net zero levies, citing the struggle of British billpayers.
Bridget Phillipson, chair of the Labour Party, dismissed Farage's announcements as a distraction, referencing a £5m donation from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne to Farage before the 2024 election. She questioned his trustworthiness to address national issues if he cannot manage his own affairs. The conference also included discussions with industry leaders from firms like Panmure Liberum and Vodafone, and AI firm Multiverse. Jenrick did not rule out bank taxes when speaking with City executives, though he predicted John Healey would increase levies on lenders. Reform UK currently leads Labour in City AM/Freshwater Strategy polling, despite facing political pressures from shifts in the governing party's fortunes and a popularity boost for Kemi Badenoch.