Farage and Jenrick to speak on final day of Reform conference marred by scandal and protests – UK politics live

Robert Jenrick is set to unveil a major tax-cutting pledge at Reform UK’s conference today, as the party seeks to shift the focus back to its economic agenda.

PA has the following report:

The party’s treasury spokesman is expected to tell the final day of the Reform conference in Birmingham that he would increase the tax-free personal allowance to £۱۵,۰۰۰ within the first ۱۰۰ days of taking office.

The threshold has been set at £۱۲,۵۷۰ since ۲۰۲۱ and is due to remain there until ۲۰۳۱.

Reform said the plan would save the average taxpayer £۵۰۰ a year and take ۲.۹ million people out of income tax altogether, at a cost of £۱۷.۷ billion in its first year, rising to £۲۱ billion five years later.

The party has previously said it wants to increase the personal allowance to £۲۰,۰۰۰, with Mr Jenrick expected to say he will approach the figure “step-by-step” when it is affordable.

Mr Jenrick will also use his speech to set out some £۸۰ billion in spending cuts, primarily through slashing the welfare budget.

He is expected to say: “The hard choice for Burnham and for us is exactly the same. It’s either welfare waste, foreign aid and migrants — or the British worker. We choose the worker.”

Reform UK home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf spotted at the conference, taking photos with supporters as the event gets under way.

Before we get into today’s events, here’s a look back at the controversy at Reform UK’s conference yesterday.

My colleagues Rowena Mason, Ben Quinn and Pippa Crerar have the full report on a day which saw Nigel Farage attempt to shore up his leadership as the party faced fresh scrutiny over its finances and the suspension of two senior aides.

The report covers the fallout from the undercover investigation, the allegations over potential foreign donations and the divisions emerging within the party. They write:

The row comprehensively overshadowed the first full day of the party’s conference with every Reform politician repeatedly questioned over the scandal.

It also exposed splits at the top of the party, with Zia Yusuf, the party’s home affairs spokesperson, strongly distancing himself from Jukes and Orr. He told reporters “anyone who supports Reform is disappointed”, and added of the investigation: “It’s just not something I am personally involved in.”

He also launched a personal video about his backstory, leading to speculation he could attempt to run for the leadership as a rival to Robert Jenrick or Richard Tice if Farage were to be forced out over his financial scandals.

However, some Reform insiders are convinced Farage will part company with Yusuf before long, partly over his ambition and combative style on social media, including one post on X that saw him accused of racism towards a Somalia-born Labour councillor. Farage is understood to have used a rude term about Yusuf recently in relation to his troublemaking on social media.

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Morning, and welcome to our UK politics blog. Reform UK’s annual conference continues in Birmingham today, with speeches from Lee Anderson, Zia Yusuf, Robert Jenrick and others, before Nigel Farage takes to the stage for the closing remarks.

The conference has been overshadowed by a scandal involving senior Reform figures caught in an undercover sting discussing potential foreign donations, prompting the suspension of two senior aides and renewed scrutiny of the party’s finances.

Jenrick, Reform’s treasury spokesperson, said James Orr, the party’s head of policy, and Dan Jukes, a close aide to Farage, have been “permanently suspended”, telling Times Radio this morning: “There is obviously due process, and so there is going to be an investigation, and we want to learn all the facts, give them obviously a right of reply.” Neither Orr or Jukes have commented on the allegations.

Violence descended on the conference yesterday during Farage’s speech when hecklers were assaulted by a mob of Reform supporters. The New Arab, which published footage of the incident, reported the protesters could be heard raising the issue of an undeclared £۵m gift to Reform, which has become a key focus of controversy surrounding the party. Farage appeared to laugh off the incident, according to the news outlet.

We’ll be bringing you the latest from the conference throughout the day, including the key speeches, reaction and any developments.