Reform UK’s new Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick slams the brakes on wild £90bn tax cut pledge. Instead, he’s unveiling a “fully costed” and much more sensible plan for Britain’s shaky finances in his debut speech.
Jenrick ditches fantasy tax cuts for hard reality
Speaking in the City of London, Newark MP Jenrick admitted Reform UK can’t just slash taxes while Britain is drowning in debt. “We also understand that we can’t make tax cuts while running a huge deficit in the vain hope that the Laffer curve alone will do the hard work for us,” said the ex-Tory minister.
Jenrick also targeted benefit claimants with mild conditions like anxiety and depression. He announced tighter rules forcing clinical diagnosis and mandatory in-person assessments – a crackdown on what he called benefit “abuse.”
He slammed the Motability scheme, blasting “expensive cars given for conditions like tennis elbow, paid for by working people who can’t afford those cars themselves.”
Reform UK will also toughen benefit eligibility, promising to restrict claims to British nationals only. “We’ll make sure only British nationals can claim benefits in the first place,” Jenrick vowed.
From firebrand to serious contender?
This dramatic shift away from headline-grabbing giveaways shows Reform UK is trying to win mainstream voters before the next general election.
Jenrick’s overhaul could be the biggest shakeup of tax and welfare since the 1980s if they get into power. His tough stance on welfare will stir controversy, but aims to tackle Britain’s booming social security bill.
The City speech signals Reform UK’s move from protest party to serious policymaker – with Jenrick steering the ship to broaden the party’s appeal and credibility.
