Nigel Farage argues that nearly 50 days into Andy Burnham’s premiership little has materially changed and that many of Burnham’s moves are symbolic. Reform UK proposes a contrasting plan of accountability: every senior minister would sign a 100‑day "jeopardy pledge" to deliver a specific reform or resign. Key promises include stopping small‑boat crossings within 100 days, raising the personal tax allowance to £15,000, cutting student loan issuance by 20%, and reducing household energy bills by about £250 a year. The plan is costed at roughly £58bn by year five and is claimed to be offset by about £91bn in savings and new revenue.
Only Radical Reform Can Rescue Britain — Our 100‑Day Plan
Reform UK is the only party that is capable of defeating the Left at the next election - Temilade Adelaja/Reuters
It has been almost 50 days since Andy Burnham achieved his long‑held ambition of becoming Labour leader and prime minister. Put to one side the way he reached Downing Street and questions about his mandate; the urgent question is what, if anything, has changed for ordinary Britons since he took office.
In the seven weeks since July 20 he has conducted a national "listening tour", shared a series of awkward social media clips and announced a number of policy aspirations. But on the evidence so far, tangible improvements are scarce. Voters would be hard‑pressed to recall more than a handful of coherent, deliverable commitments.
The PM believes that by moving civil servants 200 miles from London he can 'rewire the state' - Jeff Overs/BBC
Why Tinkering Won't Be Enough
Headline proposals — a temporary VAT cut on household energy, a temporary £2 bus fare cap outside London, ambitions to end rough sleeping and the creation of a "Number 10 North" office in Manchester — feel incremental or symbolic. The Manchester office, intended to "rewire the state," risks complicating Whitehall operations and is estimated to cost taxpayers around £175m. Meanwhile, important topics such as immigration and the broader tax burden have received little substantive attention.
"Tinkering at the margins in a country with systemic problems is not merely inadequate; it is pointless."
Reform UK's Alternative: 100‑Day 'Jeopardy' Pledges
Reform UK proposes a radically different approach. Under our plan, each senior minister would make a written, public pledge on day one of a new government and have 100 days to deliver it. If a minister fails to implement their pledge, they must resign — and if they refuse, they will be removed. These "jeopardy pledges" are designed to shift accountability back to politicians and to give voters a clear, enforceable timetable for action.
Jordan Bardella and Nigel Farage hold their 'memorandum of understanding' on stage in Birmingham - Paul Grover
Key Policy Commitments
- Stop Small‑Boat Crossings: A pledge — backed by a memorandum with French politician Jordan Bardella — to halt small‑boat crossings within 100 days.
- Tax Relief For Workers: Raise the personal tax allowance from £12,570 to £15,000, saving an estimated £486 per worker annually and removing 2.9 million people from income tax.
- Higher Education And Health Training: Cut student loan issuance by 20%, lift the cap on medical school places to admit more top UK applicants, and introduce 0% interest loans for nursing students.
- Lower Energy Costs: Reduce household energy bills by around £250 a year through cuts to carbon levies, removal of policy costs and permanent abolition of VAT on domestic energy.
Costs, Savings And Delivery
We estimate these headline commitments would cost around £28bn by the fifth year, with other policies adding about £30bn — a combined total near £58bn. Against that, we have identified approximately £91bn in itemised savings and new revenue measures. The plan is presented as fiscally responsible and targeted at improving outcomes for law‑abiding citizens.
To ensure implementation, a returned Reform government would act swiftly: declare a state of emergency on day one, recall MPs to pass enabling legislation — even if Parliament must sit six days a week — refresh the House of Lords if necessary, and use legislation to overcome judicial obstruction if it were to block the expressed will of Parliament. Civil servants who deliberately obstructed delivery would be replaced, and outside specialists would be brought in where needed.
Any civil servant who tried to obstruct our programme would lose their job, come what may - Nigel Harris
Closing Argument
Many believe that removing what they see as the dominant socialist approach is essential to restoring the country. Reform UK argues it is the only party capable of offering the kind of binding accountability it proposes; the Conservatives, having damaged their brand, could not credibly offer similar commitments. Britain faces urgent challenges and needs decisive, enforceable action — starting in the first 100 days.
Nigel Farage
Leader, Reform UK
Help us improve.
