Tories issue fresh attack on 'left-wing' Reform hours before major Nigel Farage speech

The Conservatives have warned that Reform UK cannot be taken seriously on the economy ahead of a major speech by Nigel Farage in the City of London tomorrow. Mr Farage will deliver his first proper remarks on his party's economic policy tomorrow since he confirmed he has ripped up Reform's previous manifesto commitments on tax and spending.

However the Tories have accused the party of still offering "madcap left-wing policies" like hiking welfare spending and nationalising industries. Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride warned: "It's impossible to take Reform seriously on the economy when their promises disintegrate after five minutes, and they remain committed to extra welfare spending and a huge expansion of the state. They are a one-man band and have resorted to junking promises they made only recently in a desperate attempt to appear economically credible."

"In local government they have failed to find savings and are instead planning tax hikes on hard-working families. Their left-wing, tax-raising, debt-increasing proposals for the national economy would leave families paying the price.

"Only the Conservatives have the plan, the strong team and a leader with a backbone to get spending under control, cut taxes and deliver a stronger economy."

Last month Mr Farage said a Reform government will not cut taxes until it has brought public spending under control, ditching the party's 2024 commitments to cut taxes by £90 billion.

At the last election the party pledged to abolish a swathe of unpopular taxes in its first 100 days, including stamp duty, fuel duty and inheritance tax, but many economists warned this would repeat the errors of Liz Truss's Mini-Budget.

He promised that Reform will "never borrow to spend, as Labour and the Tories have done for so long; instead, we will ensure savings are made before implementing tax cuts."

Mr Tice, who largely wrote last year's manifesto as leader before Mr Farage's return, also confirmed that the party's policy of increasing the income tax threshold to £20,000 is now only an 'aspiration'.

Mr Farage will deliver a speech on the economy tomorrow morning from the City of London as he sets out his party's approach to tax and spend.

Mr Tice said last month: "A manifesto is based on a point in time. The principles behind it are absolutely rock solid.

"We said we've got to make very significant savings in order to fund a different way to run the economy.

"What's happened since then is that the state of the economy, because of the mismanagement by this Labour government, the numbers have got far worse. And we will be focusing relentlessly, as I've been saying, on the savings."