Reform may need to rethink 90bn tax cuts pledge, deputy suggests

"Asked about what he would do as chancellor, Tice said the party's priority would be to focus on savings and cutting regulation. "We have to focus on the savings because regrettably the finances of this country are in terrible, terrible trouble," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "We will have to deal with whatever nightmare situation the government finances are in at the time of the next general election.""

"Tice was repeatedly asked about whether the election pledges - pitched by Farage at the time as a 'contract' with the British people - had been binned. "I've always said you've got to make the savings and then you can afford performance related tax cuts," he said. "The audience know that a manifesto in July '24 is not appropriate for a manifesto or a contract whenever the next general election is - a manifesto is a point in time, it's a direction of travel.""

"Reform UK may need to rethink its pledge to deliver 90bn of tax cuts, the party's deputy leader Richard Tice has suggested. The Reform UK manifesto published ahead of last year's general election made commitments to slash income tax in particular, as well as large spending pledges on defence. However, Tice told the BBC: "A manifesto in July 2024 is not appropriate for a manifesto or contract whenever the next general election is.""

Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice signalled that the party may need to reassess its £90bn tax-cut pledge and treat the 2024 manifesto as a point-in-time direction rather than a fixed contract. Tice said the immediate priority would be achieving savings and cutting regulation because public finances are in poor condition. He indicated tax cuts would follow once savings are secured and government finances stabilise, and suggested any cabinet roles would be decided by the party leader. The comments coincided with the party conference in Birmingham and the recent defection of Nadine Dorries.

Read at www.bbc.com