Nigel Farage has launched a blistering attack on the 'cretins' he claims have mismanaged the UK economy for years, vowing to deliver a second Thatcherite 'Big Bang' for the City. Speaking at the Digital Assets Summit in London, the Reform UK leader singled out former Chancellor Gordon Brown for criticism, accusing him of selling off gold reserves too cheaply and imposing excessive red tape.
Farage, who expressed confidence he would become the next prime minister, promised to bring cryptocurrency 'in from the cold' and replicate Margaret Thatcher's 1980s deregulation reforms. 'The Big Bang of the 1980s... if you ever want to have a look at an example of sensible deregulation, getting rid of ridiculous market practices and customs leading to success, Big Bang in London in the 80s is one of them,' he said.
His remarks came a day after he announced he would abandon his party's manifesto pledge to introduce £90 billion of tax cuts, in a bid to prove Reform UK can be trusted with the economy. Farage told The Times: 'Reform will never borrow to spend, as Labour and the Tories have done for so long; instead, we will ensure savings are made before implementing tax cuts.'
In a major speech next month, he is expected to drop further manifesto promises, including cuts to fuel duty, income tax, corporation tax, and inheritance tax. The Institute for Fiscal Studies had previously questioned whether Reform's sums added up. Farage added: 'Our commitment to ending Net Zero policies, benefits for foreigners, and wasteful behaviour by the Bank of England remains firm.'
