Maryquitecontrary

Reform's Economic Rescue Plan is out in full, so I've read the costings rather than the headlines. Jenrick's post lists 64 measures, and LBC reported he says they cost the taxpayer nothing. The plan's own table says otherwise for some of them. Abolishing the Energy Profits Levy is priced at £1.17bn in 2027/28. Reversing the employer NI rise is priced at £7.14bn, £6.96bn, £6.76bn and £6.77bn a year from 2028/29. That NI cut is paid for by a new migrant worker levy. The levy's income is identical to the NI cost, to the penny, in every one of those years. That looks like a balancing figure, not a forecast. No rate, no base and no design have been published. The document says it "will take time to design". The costings are Reform's own. Page 30 says line items use an "in-house tax and transfer model". No OBR or IFS scoring is shown. The headline numbers: tax cuts of £26.74bn in 2027/28, rising to £39.68bn by 2031/32, funded by savings of £39.88bn rising to £87.48bn. Welfare does the heavy lifting. In 2029/30 it's £32.78bn of £67.46bn in total savings, about half. The first-year figure is £17.48bn, with no breakdown, and the plan says existing claimants are exempt from reassessment for three years. Year one is thin. On the table's own rows, borrowing falls by just £1.24bn in 2027/28 and the current deficit rises by £4.24bn, from £4.56bn to £8.80bn. £5.48bn of the borrowing fall is capital. The plan also sets aside £15bn a year in unallocated spending by 2029/30, and says that covers 3% on defence, which it costs at £10.70bn. That leaves about £4.3bn for borders and policing. I've put four questions to Reform. What rate and base does the migrant levy use to raise about £7bn a year? What makes up the £17.48bn of welfare savings in year one? Does the energy bills line include lost carbon tax receipts, the Treasury taking on green levies, and any compensation for repudiating AR7 contracts? What does the M4 relief road cost and where is it funded? I'll publish their reply in full. Source: Reform UK, Economic Rescue Plan, October 2026, pages 4, 16, 18, 19, 30 and 31.