Reform UK 2024 election manifesto: Nigel Farage's party promises immigration 'freeze'

Reform UK has unveiled its general election manifesto – which the party dubs a “contract” with voters – with plans to scrap net-zero targets, introduce “smart” immigration, and ensure zero-tolerance policing. Nigel Farage, who became the party's leader this month, has described the manifesto as a “serious plan to reshape the way our country is run”, pledging to tackle the “population explosion”.

In the 32-page document, the party promises to freeze “all non-essential immigration” which it claims will “boost wages, protect public services, end the housing crisis and cut crime.” Reform UK claims it would “stop the boats” in its first 100 days with a four-point plan.

Mr Farage's party has also promised to “clamp down on all crime and antisocial behaviour”, by recruiting 40,000 new police officers in the next five years. The 'contract' with voters also proposes changing the definition of hate crimes and a ban on 'transgender ideology'.

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Reform UK has also vowed to scrap net-zero targets to save £30bn a year for the next 25 years and fast-track North Sea oil and gas licences. The party has also pledged to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP within three years, and to 3% of GDP within six.

In its manifesto, the party says the Conservatives’ policy of national service for one year is “not the answer” and instead proposes to recruit 30,000 people to the army full time. The party also promises to make St George’s Day and St David’s Day a public holiday.

Mr Farage's party says it would also introduce a Free Speech Bill to “stop left-wing bias and politically correct ideology”, scrap the TV licence which funds the BBC and replace the House of Lords with a “smaller, more democratic” second chamber. The party has also pledged to replace civil service leaders with “successful professionals from the private sector” who are appointed by the government.

It comes after the Lib Dems, Conservatives, Greens and Labour published their manifestos last week. George Galloway's Workers Party of Britain has already published its manifesto.

Here's what Reform UK's general election manifesto says on the NHS, the economy and immigration.

NHS

Under Reform UK’s plans, all NHS and social care staff will pay zero basic rate tax for three years, in a bid to retain and recruit health workers. A tax relief of 20% on all private healthcare and insurance, which the party says relieve pressure on the NHS, is also proposed in the document.

A campaign with the motto “pharmacy first, GP second, A&E last” will be launched under the party’s plans, which it says would cut waiting times. The party is also proposing a public inquiry into vaccine harms, as it states that “excess deaths are nearly as high as they were during the Covid pandemic”.

The economy

Mr Farage’s party pledges to cut fuel duty by 20p per litre, scrap VAT on energy bills, and cut stamp duty to 0% on sales below £750,000. Reform also wants to “simplify” the UK’s tax system which it says is more 21,000 pages, while Hong Kong’s is 500 pages.

The party is also proposing to lift the minimum profit threshold to £100,000 and reduce the main corporation tax rate from 25% to 15% in three years, which it says would “free” 1.2 million businesses. Elsewhere it promises to abolish business rates for small and medium businesses by introducing an “online delivery tax” at 4% for large companies.

The document also states that inheritance tax would be scrapped for 98% of all estates.

Immigration

Nigel Farage’s party has set out a four-point plan for immigration including: leaving the European Convention on Human Rights, allowing zero illegal immigrants to settle in the UK, establishing a new “Department of Immigration”, and returning migrants who come over in boats to France. A “freeze” on non-essential immigration “to protect our culture and identity” is also proposed in the first few pages of Reform UK’s manifesto.

Under the party’s plans, immigrants who commit crimes would have their UK citizenship withdrawn, with the exception of “some misdemeanour offences”. The party is also proposing to ban international students from bringing dependents to the UK.

National insurance would be raised to 20% for “foreign workers” to incentivise businesses to employ British workers.