Reform UK Scotland in pledge to ‘back ambition’ – Daily Business

Malcolm Offord and Nigel Farage will present the party’s Scottish manifesto (pic: Terry Murden)

Reform UK will launch its Scottish election manifesto today with a pledge to “back ambition” and reverse current government policies on income tax and energy.

With the party contesting Labour for second place, Nigel Farage will join Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord with promises to open up North Sea oil wells and simplify the income tax system.

The manifesto rules out another independence referendum in the near term, saying it would be a distraction from good governance, and guarantees that the Scottish NHS will remain free at the point of need, fully funded by general taxation.

The party has committed to restoring the ‘local connection’ requirement for housing applications in Scotland after it was abolished by the SNP in 2022, ensuring that Scots are prioritised for housing in their own country, and” ending Glasgow’s status as a UK asylum dispersal city”.

The party has previously outlined its plan to cut income tax immediately by aligning with the rest of the UK’s three bands and cutting 1p below each one. It will also scrap all net zero subsidies, focus on North Sea oil and gas as Scotland’s primary energy source and repeal the unpopular Hate Crime Act.

The income tax policy is estimated to cost around £2 billion, which the party calculates will be repaid four times over by economic growth. Under these plans, Scottish doctors will save £2,200 each year.

Reform Scotland’s target is to cut this to 3p below the UK’s bands within the first five-year term, and ensure that no-one faces a marginal tax rate above 50% on any additional £1 earned.

At a press conference today, Mr Offord is expected to say: “We can immediately back ambition again by putting money straight back into people’s pockets – by realigning all our tax bands with England and cutting each of them by 1p, so that Scotland – just like that – becomes the best place in the whole of the UK to work.”

He proposes to pay for the cutback by scrapping many of the government quangos whose work he believes can be taken in-house.

On energy, the party says Scotland currently imports 70% of its gas from Norway which is extracting from the basis which Scotland is decommissioning.

Reform UK has pledged to scrap all net zero subsidies and prepare to rehabilitate North Sea oil and Gas as Scotland’s primary energy system. Using Scotland’s own natural resources again “will reduce household bills immediately and carve out the path to ensure that Scotland is set to flourish again”.

Mr Offord will say: “Reform is setting out a bold new direction focused on bringing down bills, protecting jobs and restoring Scotland’s competitive edge.

“We will back North Sea oil and gas, fast-tracking energy infrastructure and end costly ideological policies. The plan will deliver secure, affordable and reliable energy for households and industry alike.

“Together, these reforms mark a decisive break from years of stagnation, creating the conditions for higher growth, better jobs and stronger communities.”

Mr Offord adds:  “Our manifesto presents an unashamedly ambitious vision for a prosperous and flourishing Scotland. One that prioritises economic growth and ordinary people above the virtue signalling and total mismanagement that Scots have become accustomed to for the past two decades.

“Be under no illusion: the only way to end the SNP’s 19 years of managed decline and get Scotland growing again is by voting for Reform UK in May’s Holyrood election.”

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