REFORM UK promised a tax cut for 40million as the party tried to move on from the dodgy donations scandal.
Party Treasury chief Robert Jenrick said he would raise the tax-free personal allowance to £15,000 within the first 100 days of winning a general election.
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And he promised to quit if he failed — posting a draft resignation letter online to prove he meant it.
The giveaway would save a basic rate taxpayer £500 a year and take 2.9million people out of tax altogether. In all, 40million would be better off under the policy.
Addressing the Reform party conference at Birmingham NEC, Mr Jenrick said: “Here is my pledge, to you, and to the country.
“In the first 100 days of a Reform government, in our first Budget, we will raise the tax-free personal allowance from £12,570 to £15,000.
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“The first 15 grand you earn will be yours. Every penny — tax free.
“That is £500 a year back for every basic-rate taxpayer and £1,000 for a working couple. That is three million of the lowest paid. The carer, the apprentice, the van driver — out of income tax altogether.”
The tax giveaway would also mean no one would have to pay tax on their state pension. Mr Jenrick said he hoped to eventually raise the allowance to £20,000.
Taunting Andy Burnham, he pointed out that the PM admitted voters in his seat of Makerfield were crying out for the allowance to be raised. But Mr Burnham ruled out the policy within 48 hours of moving into No 10.
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Mr Jenrick went on: “I will not be a politician who makes promises and breaks them. It’s about time politics worked the way the rest of the country does.
“Politicians who deliver. Politicians whose necks are on the line.”
To prove his point, he posted a picture online of his resignation letter immediately after the speech.
The tax giveaway will be paid for by slashing welfare handouts, including for those with only minor mental health complaints.
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It comes amid growing speculation that Mr Burnham could call an early general election next year.
The last day of the conference also included speeches by Laila Cunningham, who is Reform’s candidate for Mayor of London, and Suella Braverman, who defected to the party from the Tories, along with Mr Jenrick, earlier this year.
But the conference has been overshadowed by the suspension of media adviser Dan Jukes and policy chief James Orr, who were filmed by an undercover reporter discussing accepting foreign donations.
Mr Farage has dismissed the allegations as “loose pub talk” from aides and said he “frankly wasn’t even listening” to one of the conversations at which he was present.
On Saturday, he tried to move on from the scandal with his closing speech.
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Wearing Union Jack socks and a turquoise suit, he said: “What this conference has shown is whatever you throw at the leadership, whatever you throw at you, the people’s army, we immediately pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and start all over again.
“Britain is broken and Britain needs Reform. We intend to win that next election.”
WRONG SORT OF FIREWORKS
NIGEL Farage wanted fireworks at Reform UK’s party conference — but not this kind.
First it was plunged into crisis by a foreign donations row that could become a police probe.
Then his big speech was thrown into chaos by heckling climate activists — dragged out kicking and screaming. Nigel dismissed the “dodgy donations” row as loose pub talk by two aides he has since suspended.
But, as the World War Two slogan warned: “Loose lips sink ships.” And Mr Farage has to get his troops shipshape and battle ready to prove he is a Prime Minister in waiting.
There were plenty of decent announcements at the conference — such as Robert Jenrick scrapping tax for nearly three million.
But they were drowned out by accusations of scandal. Nigel should begin by sorting out his internal party structures to reassure voters Reform will never take dodgy money.
It is boring but necessary work.
Many in the leader’s squad have been with him for years. Team Reform can be more like a family than a political party. But business and family do not always mix.
Nigel is learning that the hard way.