Nigel Farage has defended Reform UK's tax policies and criticised Prime Minister Keir Starmer's response to the US-led war against Iran, during a press conference on Tuesday. The Reform UK leader also announced plans for community litter-picking days and hinted at future pension policy announcements.
Farage argued that Starmer made a 'big strategic mistake' by not supporting the US in the Iran conflict, claiming the UK could have backed Washington without joining bombing missions. He warned that the UK's stance had damaged prospects for the Chagos Islands handover, as Mauritius would not approve Diego Garcia's use for attacks on Iran.
On tax, Farage defended Richard Tice's use of offshore arrangements, stating Tice had 'obeyed the law' and that 'no one pays more tax than they have to'. He clarified that Reform's manifesto pledge to 'stop the offshore taxpayer rip off' was aimed at companies in the care home sector.
Farage also confirmed that Reform UK would seek to cut defence spending by reducing net zero policies and making 'very, very tough choices' on the benefits bill, which he said was over £300bn. He dismissed the idea of closer EU alignment for growth, saying the UK should not align with 'a group of other economies, some of whom are doing even worse than we are'.
The press conference followed announcements by Health Secretary Wes Streeting on a meningitis outbreak, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on the Middle East, and Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden on youth employment.
