Nigel Farage’s Reform UK pledges tax breaks for married couples to make having children easier, but critics argue the proposals come with a hefty price tag.
The Reform UK leader has pledged more tax breaks for married couples to make having children easier. In a speech in central London, Nigel Farage announced that his party would back more generous tax breaks for married people and scrap the two-child benefit limit.
The Proposals
Farage’s proposals include lifting the salary level at which people start paying income tax to £20,000. He believes this would make it easier for lower-paid workers to have children. The party also plans to exempt one partner in a marriage from paying tax on the ‘first £25,000 of their income’.
Funding the Proposals
However, Farage‘s proposals come with a price tag. Increasing the annual income tax allowance to £20,000 could cost between £50bn and £80bn a year, depending on the details. Reform UK plans to pay for these giveaways by scrapping net-zero climate measures, stopping hotel accommodation for asylum seekers, ending diversity and equality initiatives in the public sector, and cutting the number of quangos.
Reactions from Opponents
Opponents of Farage‘s proposals have expressed concerns about their funding and feasibility. ‘Fantasy promises’ that would be difficult to implement without increasing taxes or borrowing more money, according to Labour Party chairwoman Ellie Reeves.
Ellie Reeves is a British Labour Party politician serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Croydon North since 2019.
Born in 1985, 'I don't recall exactly,' Reeves said about her birthdate, but she did study at the University of Cambridge and later earned her law degree from BPP Law School.
She was elected to the House of Commons with a majority of 4,946 votes.
Reeves has been involved in various charitable organizations, including the 'We are not just about equality for women,' said a statement by the Women's Equality Party.
Education Secretary’s Response
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said the government is considering lifting the two-child benefit cap, but it would cost a lot of money. Farage and Reform UK believe that making marriage more important would give children the best chance of success.
Bridget Phillipson is a British Labour Party politician serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Houghton and Sunderland South since 2010.
She previously served as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 2020 to 2023.
Born in 1980, Phillipson studied at the University of York and later worked in local government before entering politics.
She has been a vocal advocate for workers' rights and social justice issues.
A Shift in Labour Policy?
Sir ‘Keir Starmer announced plans to ease cuts to winter fuel payments last week’ , but has not yet set out how many pensioners would see the payment reinstated or how it would be paid for. This could potentially pave the way for a shift in Labour’s policy on family benefits.
Keir Starmer is a British politician who has been serving as the leader of the Labour Party since April 2020.
A former human rights lawyer, he was first elected to Parliament in 2015 and held various shadow cabinet positions before becoming leader.
Born on September 2, 1962, in Southwark, London, Starmer studied law at Kingston University and later earned a master's degree from the University of East Anglia.
He has been a vocal advocate for human rights and social justice issues throughout his career.
