NIGEL FARAGE called for migration to Britain to be slashed to 50,000 a year and a 200bn spend on the NHS and high streets as he announced his party’s general election policies today.
The Brexit Party leader unveiled his party’s election battle plan at this morning’s Westminster launch.
Promising to help “ordinary people”, he also pledged to campaign for a “clean break” Brexit “from all EU institutions” as his party unveiled its Contract With The People, rather than a traditional party manifesto.
The term “manifesto” was associated with lies in voters’ minds, Mr Farage claimed.
Migration to the UK would return to a “post-war norm” under his Eurosceptic party’s plans, he claimed.
Speaking at today’s policy launch, Mr Farage said his party would “change the landscape” of politics in Britain, as he took aim at the House of Lords honours’ system, which “borders on corruption”.
And he accused Labour of having “absolutely betrayed” Leave-backing voters as he laid out his election stall.
‘NEW RADICALS’
As well as the cap on migration, Mr Farage’s vision includes a 200bn ‘Brexit dividend’ which would be spent on the NHS, our High Streets, and the roads and rail network.
VAT on fuel bills would also be axed as he promised his party would “cut the cost of living” – with the BBC licence fee to be phased out.
The ex-Ukip leader said: “Brexit is the beginning not the end, we need a political revolution.”
And he warned Boris Johnson he would be looking “very closely at the Tory manifesto” when it was launched on Sunday.
Mr Farage said: “The Brexit Party are the party of the new radicals, that is who we are.
“We want to bring politics and our democracy into the 21st century, we genuinely do want to change politics for good. ”
It comes after Mr Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn clashed over Brexit in ITV’s leaders’ debate on Tuesday.
FARAGE PLANTS ELECTION FLAG
Announcing his ambition to cut migration to around 50,000 a year, Mr Farage claimed we have a “population crisis”.
He said: “We would very much want to get immigration numbers down to what for 60 years were very acceptable and very workable post-war levels.
“Yes, I’m talking around about 50,000 people a year.”
The Brexit Party chief also said he was “sickened” by political patronage in the House of Lords, as he called for the second chamber to be abolished.
Speaking to journalists after the launch, he said of his party’s migration strategy: “Let’s return to 60 years of post-war normality that allowed us to have the best levels of race relations in Europe…until the later 90s.”
Under his proposals, temporary work permits could be brought in to help employers fill job vacancies.
It comes as Labour last night vowed to keep free movement for EU citizens and allow tens of thousands more immigrants from the rest of the world into Britain.
Mr Corbyn promised to tear up rules which mean new arrivals must be earning at least 18,600 if they want their families to join them.
Boris is promising to bring in an Australian-style points-based immigration system.
The Brexit Party is also backing the abolition of the House of Lords, axing the HS2 high-speed rail project and free “base level” broadband for all homes.
Phasing out the BBC licence fee also forms part of the Brexit Party’s election policies.
And British companies would see the level before they pay corporation tax fixed at 10,000.
The Brexit Party is putting up candidates in 275 seats for next month’s general election fight.
Following pressure on him to help Boris Johnson deliver Brexit, Mr Farage’s party withdrew candidates in 317 seats that the Conservative Party won in 2017.
Mr Farage said his plans would be paid for by 200 billion of savings by cutting the foreign aid budget, ceasing EU payments and scrapping HS2 .
He also said 7 billion could be claimed back from the European Investment Bank.
And he would “stop sending” 13 billion to the EU every year, proposing to cut the foreign aid budget.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning, Mr Farage added: “We see Brexit as the beginning of a real fundamental change, not the end.
“The word manifesto – I think in a word association test, most people would say ‘lie’. I think it’s now a defunct word.”
He added: “I’m going for a different idea, which is a contract with the people – I think it makes more sense.”
Scrapping student loan tuition fee interest, abolishing inheritance tax and replacing business rates for shops outside the M25 with an online sales tax are other Brexit Party policies.
This week, Mr Farage revealed he could pull campaigners from key marginals to help the Tories.
He said he wouldn’t censure any of his parliamentary hopefuls looking to strike a deal with the Tories but that he “can’t manage” the process himself.
The Tories denied any pacts were underway.
During a speech in Peterborough he urged Tory supporters in 130 Labour-held seats to “vote tactically” and “lend us your support” to get Brexit done.
