Reform UK has issued its formal response to the Budget, with its leader, Nigel Farage, calling John Healey's package 'timid' and attacking new HMRC powers to collect overdue tax.
In a Reform UK press release, Farage said:
"We are in a deep financial hole. Britain is broke."
The release repeats Reform's plan to cut spending by £40bn in its first financial year in government, rising to £80bn over five years. The party says this would pay for raising tax thresholds to £15,000, and to £20,000 'if we can'.
On the Chancellor's new HMRC collection powers, Farage said:
"HMRC can now seize money from your bank account without even having a meeting. As someone who's been de-banked, this sets a dark precedent. Reform will fight this at every turn."
The release also claims a 'record £3 trillion debt' and welfare spending of £200bn. It says the OBR cut its growth forecast from 1.6% to 1.0%, and that the cuts to grocery tariffs save households 'just six pence per day'. None of these figures has yet been independently checked.
Earlier today Farage described the package as "a retail Budget aimed at an early general election".