By Eniola Amadu
A Reform UK government will prevent EU nationals from accessing universal credit, a decision that could tear up the post-Brexit trade pact and provoke a backlash from the European Union.
The move is among a few other proposals that the Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage is expected to announce at a press conference.
The party asserts that the plans would save £25bn in total yearly, sufficient to make up for the proposed deficit in next-week’s budget.
Reducing international aid to £1bn a year – down 90% from its current 0.3% of national income – and increasing the NHS levy almost three times over for foreign residents. These are other included proposed cost savings.
In a statement released by the Reform, foreign nationals will lose the privilege to universal credit following a three-month notice. The party revealed that this action will save a total of £6bn per year.
Another measure would raise the NHS surcharge from £1,035 to £2,718 annually — a change Reform claims would generate £5bn. The party argues the present fee is “far too low” and maintains that foreign nationals place a higher average demand on the NHS.
Other areas stated that the £25bn in yearly savings would cover £580m that would be gained through the deportation of foreign criminals.
The decisions were first reported in The Times with the head of policy in the Reform, Zia Yusuf informing the newspaper that: “Labour has a choice. They can either go ahead and raise taxes on British citizens or they can enact our proposals which put British people first and ask foreign nationals to bear the brunt of the black hole, not British citizens.”
Yusuf added that: “Most British people would consider it outrageous to expect British people to pay higher taxes or see their services cut whilst their money is being spent this way.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Labour Party noted that: “Nigel Farage’s fantasy numbers don’t add up, and he’d leave British taxpayers footing a hefty bill.
“Farage is happy to slap British shoppers with higher prices at the checkouts by risking a trade war with Europe. He’d betray working people and hammer British businesses who want to trade with the EU.”
