With Nigel Farage still sulking, it was left to Robert Jenrick to unveil Reform UK's latest 'policies' at a press conference on Wednesday. The event, intended to highlight promises to small business, was met with skepticism as the party's poll numbers decline.
Jenrick proposed relaxing data protection rules, raising the VAT threshold to £150,000, and offering a £30 tax credit for those kept on hold by HMRC for 30 minutes. He also suggested allowing parents and grandparents to invest up to £250,000 tax-free in a child's business. However, no funding sources were provided.
Critics dismissed the proposals as unfunded and unrealistic, noting the party's lack of detailed policy on defence, foreign affairs, and health. Jenrick's attempts to appear sincere were undermined by his track record, and the press conference highlighted the party's internal divisions and leadership crisis.
Observers noted that Reform's campaign is struggling, with Farage avoiding media appearances after a Guardian report revealed a £5m gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. The party's future remains uncertain as it faces questions about its direction and credibility.