Reform UK chief calls for £48bn aid

NEW REFORM UK party leader Richard Tice has called for a £48 billion “stimulus” package to restart economic growth in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Tice, who took over from Nigel Farage after he announced at the weekend that he is stepping back from active politics, said the UK needs to “grow” the economy to rebuild the public finances.

In an online press conference, he condemned Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s tax-raising Budget and called for personal allowances to be raised to £20,000 and £70,000 for basic and higher rate taxpayers and the corporation tax threshold to be lifted to £100,000.

“It is vital to reform the way the economy is taxed in order to drive growth,” he said.

“Last week’s catastrophic Budget showed no ambition and will drag the UK back into another decade of low-growth austerity.

“The UK now has the highest taxation for 70 years and the lowest growth for 60 years. It is morally indefensible to drag another 1.3 million of the lowest paid into society into paying income tax when they are earning less than 50 per cent of the national average salary.

“We need a new vision and a new start for the UK. We must raise our sights and be more ambitious.”

It follows news at the weekend that Mr Farage is to stand down as leader of Reform UK.

The 56-year-old, a former European Parliament member, said he is stepping back from active politics after 30 years of campaigning.

He tweeted that he would still fight “the big battles of the day”.