Farage Sets Sights on Future: Reform UK Targets 2029 Elections as ‘First Big Push’ Amidst General Election Realities

Nigel Farage has stated that Reform's primary goal is the upcoming general election. He admits that his party won't be leading the government post-July 4th but aspires to establish themselves as a significant counter to Labour.

Monday, June 17, 2024, 4:

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Nigel Farage has admitted that Reform UK will not secure a government following July 4th, but he described the general election campaign as the "initial major effort" in preparation for the subsequent election.

Kicking off his party's proposal to voters, which he refers to as a "contract" instead of a manifesto, Mr. Farage claimed that his campaign is gaining traction nationwide, with notably growing support among 18 to 24-year-old voters.

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Addressing an audience in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, he expressed concerns over a "loss of confidence" in political systems and voiced his desire for Reform to "secure a foothold in parliament" in order to "form a significant challenge" to the Labour government.

"He acknowledged the challenges faced by his nascent political party, admitting that they do not expect to win the upcoming general election."

"This is just the beginning. Our ultimate goal is to win the 2029 general election. However, this marks our initial major effort."

Earlier, Mr. Farage announced his intention to pursue the position of prime minister in the upcoming general election, potentially scheduled for 2029.

Reform's policy manifesto spans 25 pages, in contrast to Labour's 133-page document. The initial two of the party's five principal commitments focus on immigration, specifically vowing to halt "all non-essential immigration."

The political group has pledged to "halt maritime arrivals" within its initial 100 days of governance. Their strategy includes withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), ensuring no illegal immigrants are resettled in the UK, establishing a dedicated department for immigration matters, and sending back migrants who attempt to cross the Channel in small boats to France.

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The remaining three key promises encourage voters to envision "an NHS without waiting lists," to consider "fair pay for a day's labor," and to contemplate "reasonable, consistent energy costs."

Reform is also proposing several tax reductions, such as increasing the income tax minimum threshold to £20,000 annually, eliminating stamp duty, and removing inheritance tax for all estates valued under £2 million.

The party intends to finance its initiatives by scrapping net zero objectives, implementing a tax on immigration, and by identifying and cutting £50 billion in inefficient government expenditures.

Reform is proposing the introduction of a voucher system for private medical treatment under the NHS if individuals are not able to secure a GP appointment within three days. Additionally, they are calling for a public investigation into the increased mortality rates and potential adverse effects linked to the COVID vaccine.

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Additional proposals involve abandoning all net-zero initiatives, halting "woke" law enforcement practices, and introducing laws for "absolute free speech" which would ensure an end to "de-banking, cancel culture, left-wing hate mobs, or political bias in public institutions," along with preventing the application of "sharia law" within the UK.

Sky News' assistant political editor Sam Coates challenged Mr. Farage about the planned extra £141 billion annual expenditure, questioning, "Isn't the magnitude of this quite unrealistic?"

Mr. Farage described the strategy as "innovative, a novel approach – it's unconventional."

During an extended discussion, the head of the Reform party stated that he does not plan to merge with the Conservatives, although he did not completely dismiss the possibility of joining them in the future.

Discover further details on Sky News: Overview of party pledges and the resignation of a Reform candidate due to controversial social media remarks.

Last week, his party surpassed the Conservatives for the first time in a YouGov poll conducted for The Times, though the Tories maintain an average lead of seven points.

Rishi Sunak has consistently stated that casting a vote for Mr Farage's party effectively gives Labour, who are forecasted to win the next election, a "blank cheque."

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Reform has come under scrutiny regarding how it screens its candidates. Grant StClair-Armstrong, who was running for election in Saffron Walden, the Essex seat formerly held by Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch, submitted his resignation on Sunday.

There were accounts in The Times indicating that he had earlier urged voters to support the British National Party (BNP).

Last week, a candidate from the Reform party issued an apology for a historical online comment suggesting that Britain should have accepted Hitler's proposal for neutrality rather than engaging in combat against the Nazis during World War II.

Ian Gribbin, the candidate for the East Sussex constituency of Bexhill and Battle, expressed to Sky News his unreserved apology and retraction of his earlier statements.

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