Reform UK Campaigner Tells BBC Question Time The Party's Sums Don't Add Up

A leading Reform UK campaigner has admitted that the party’s spending plans do not add up.

Tim Montgomerie, who left the Tories last December in a high-profile defection to Nigel Farage’s party, made the comment on BBC Question Time on Thursday night.

He was put on the spot by presenter Fiona Bruce amid a row over the party leader’s plans to reinstate winter fuel payments, lift the two-child benefit cap and cut taxes.

Keir Starmer accused Farage of planning a “mad experiment” with the UK economy and compared his plans to Liz Truss’s disastrous mini-Budget.

Bruce told Montgomerie: “I know what your opinion is because you spoke about it this week and you said as far as you’re concerned, the numbers do not add up at present.”

He replied: “I don’t think they do at the moment, but [lifting the two-chil cap] is a policy that will cost £3-4 billion. 

“Covid cost this country £350bn, we’re about to spend £150bn on building up our army over the next 10/15 years, bank bailouts cost £25bn. This is small change.

“It’s not fair to ask a party three years out from an election to do all the numbers now without knowing the context in which we’ll be taking the decisions.”

Bruce then said: “But it’s not unreasonable if a party suggests it’s going to raise the income tax threshold to £20,000, if it’s going to reintroduce the winter fuel payment, if it’s going to lift the two-child benefit cap, to have some idea how it might find the money for that.” 

Montgomerie then pointed out that Farage has refused to commit to continuing the pensions triple lock if he becomes prime minister.

“You can draw your own conclusions about that,” he replied.

“When I joined Reform I said to Nigel Farage are you sure you want me, because I was a pain in the butt for the Tories and I will speak honestly.

“But I think it is unreasonable to ask, three years out from an election, for all the numbers to be set out in a spreadsheet now.”