Reform's £80bn tax cuts are a gift to the richest few

Analysis for The Independent reveals how the wealthiest 10 per cent would gain nearly four times as much as the poorest

- ARCHIE MITCHELL

Nigel Farage's claim that Reform UK is the "party of workers" has been called into question as figures show his plans to slash taxes would benefit the richest most.

The Reform leader on Tuesday outlined up to £80bn of welfare and tax handouts - without saying how he would fund them - in a bid to entice Labour voters, declaring that "Reform really are now the party of working people".

But economists have warned that the billions of pounds' worth of unfunded pledges would cause economic chaos, and say Mr Farage's plans would benefit top earners far more than those on the lowest incomes.

The centrepiece of Mr Farage's tax plans was a pledge to lift the tax-free income allowance from £12,500 to £20,000, which would cost between £50bn and £80bn per year.

Stuart Adam, a senior economist at the influential Institute for Fiscal Studies, said that the "biggest beneficiaries [would be] the top 10 per cent".