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Nigel Farage would slash public services even deeper than the Tories while betraying pensioners, as Reform were branded "vultures" by critics. In a speech in the City of London, the Reform UK leader abandoned billions of pounds worth of tax pledges - but vowed welfare cuts and a huge dip in public sending. He claimed economic turmoil would force a general election in 2027 as he moaned that Brexit opportunities had been "squandered". Mr Farage refused to commit to keeping the pensions triple lock if he got into power - and also suggested the minimum wage should be lowered for low paid workers. He also doubled down on his plans to create a scheme to help wealthy overseas tycoons avoid taxes. He was accused of setting out an "incoherent saloon bar budget" that would benefit hedge funds and financial speculators at the expense of workers. And asked if he would commit to the pension triple lock - which ensures pensions go up by the highest of average earnings growth, price inflation (CPI), or 2.5% - Mr Farage rambled: "If I'm right and that election comes in 2027, then the economy will be in an even worse state than any of us in this room could even predict. " So how can anybody project on pensions or thresholds or any of those things between now and then?" Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper responded: "Farage is looking to raid the pockets of some of the most vulnerable pensioners to pay for his anti-net zero agenda and the mysterious, unelected ‘advisers’ he envisages running the Government. “He is no champion of pensioners — he’d betray them if he ever reached Downing Street." She vowed to fight Reform "vultures" to protect pensioners. Mr Farage was also forced to admit that sweeping tax cuts might not be as easy to achieve as he'd claimed last year. He conceded: "We want to cut taxes. Of course we do. But we understand substantial tax cuts given the dire state of debt and our finances are not realistic at this current moment." Following Mr Farage's speech, TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “The cat is well and truly out of the bag - Reform is the party of austerity. “ Nigel Farage wants to finish what the Tories started. After 14 years of cuts that gutted our schools, hospitals and councils, he’d slash even deeper – starving our public services of vital funds. “His ideological attack on net zero will place tens of thousands of jobs at risk in key sectors like EV vehicles and green steel. And while he’s at it, he’d drag Britain into a race to the bottom on workers’ rights, consumer and environmental standards - unleashing further chaos that would be paid for by working people.” And Mr Nowak continued: "Make no mistake, Farage’s slash and burn economics would destroy jobs by further wrecking our EU trading relationship and mark a return to deregulated financial markets which led directly to the financial crash. “It’s all straight out of the Trump playbook. Loud promises upfront to disguise pay-offs for his rich backers. This incoherent saloon bar budget revealed Reform and Farage’s true colours. “Farage doesn’t care about working people. He’s fighting for hedge funds and speculators who profit from insecurity and decline.” Mr Farage repeatedly accused the Government of stifling business, claiming Britain was suffering from a "wealth drain". And outlining his belief in trickle-down economics he said: " I want as many high earning people as possible living in this country and paying as much tax as they legally have to. "Because if the rich leave and the rich don't pay tax, then the poorer in society will all have to pay more tax." Predicting a general election within two years, he said: "I think my own view is that in two budgets time the markets will actually force the Chancellor into what will be a genuine austerity budget, at which point the left in the Labor Party won't buy it. "And it's why I still stand by my prediction that there will be a general election caused by economic collapse. That will happen in 2027."
