Ukip manifesto 2015: Nigel Farage's election policies
Nigel Farage unveils 'fully costed' manifesto, the 'most important document of his political life'
Ukip leader Nigel Farage launched his party's "serious, fully costed" manifesto, with a pledge to help take the UK out of the European Union within two years and impose strict limits on immigration. Farage presented his party as an opportunity for real change "for the first time in 100 years" and promised a "low-tax revolution".
Policies include a new points-based immigration system, funding for new jobs for armed forces veterans, and cutting foreign aid by £9bn.
Robin Brant, BBC political correspondent, has described the manifesto as the most important document in Farage's political life. The Ukip leader had previously described his party's 2010 manifesto as "drivel", but promised that the 2015 version would be for people who "believe in Britain".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
- The Week's guides to the party manifestosConservative manifesto: PM to revive right-to-buy schemeLib Dem manifesto lays out non-negotiable schools pledgeGreen Party manifesto calls for 'peaceful revolution'Labour manifesto highlights: from the economy to football fansUkip manifesto: from tax revolution to national holidays
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme before the manifesto launch, Ukip's head of policy Suzanne Evans said the document would be accompanied by a 20-page costing assessment by the Centre for Policy Studies to prove that their policies would balance the books."It's about good housekeeping. I'm a mum. I have to run a household. If there are things I can't afford I scrap them," she said.Here's what Ukip is promising in its manifesto:
Economy
Ukip will ensure the Treasury sticks to its latest plan to eliminate the deficit, as set out in the March 2015 Budget. Leaving the EU will also save £9bn a year, says Ukip. The overseas aid budget will be reduced from 0.7 per cent of the UK's gross national income to 0.2 per cent. The Barnett Formula, the subsidy paid from Westminster to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, will be replaced with a system based on relative need, resulting in reductions for Scotland.
Tax
The personal tax allowance will be raised to at least £13,000. Inheritance tax will be abolished. The threshold for paying 40 per cent tax will be raised to £55,000 and a new intermediate tax of 30 per cent will be introduced for incomes of between £43,500 and £55,000. The transferrable tax allowance for married couples and civil partners will be increased to £1,500. After leaving the EU, VAT will be removed for certain goods such as repairs to listed buildings and sanitary products, and large businesses will be stopped from avoiding corporation tax. No form of mansion tax will be introduced.
Business and employmentBritish businesses will be allowed to "choose to employ British citizens first". Local authorities will be encouraged to offer 30 minutes of free parking in town centres, high streets and shopping parades to boost local business. The rapid decline in the fishing industry will be reversed.
Families and housingAll primary schools will be required to offer care before and after school from 8am until 6pm in term time. A law will be introduced to presume 50-50 shared parenting when child residency is disputed. Empty homes will be brought back into use, development on brownfield sites will be incentivised and more affordable homes will be built. A National Homeless Register will be created to make it easier for people without homes to claim welfare and get access to medical services. Energy bills will be reduced by abolishing green taxes and levies and by withdrawing from the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme.
HealthAn additional £3bn a year will be invested in the NHS by the end of the next parliament. Another £170m will be added to mental health funding each year, phased in through the first two years of parliament. Only people who have the permanent right to remain in Britain and who have paid UK taxes for at least five years will be granted an NHS number and be eligible for the full services offered by the NHS. Hospital parking will become free of charge. Social care funding will be increased by £1.2bn each year.
Education
Teachers' workloads will be eased, first aid training will become a statutory part of the curriculum and university students who choose a degree and career that helps to fill the existing skills' gap will not have to repay their tuition fees if they work in their discipline for five years. Ukip also supports grammar schools and eventually wants to see one in every town.
Immigration and the EU
British citizens should have an in/out referendum on EU membership "as soon as possible". Ukip promises to "take back control of our borders". Unskilled immigrant workers will be temporarily banned from moving into the country, sham marriages will be tackled and an Australian-style points-based system will be introduced to manage the number of immigrants coming in.
Security and defenceForeign criminals will not be granted a visa to enter the UK, while resident migrants who are given a prison sentence will have their visas revoked. The defence budget will be increased to two per cent of GDP in 2015/16 and more for the remaining years of the parliament. Armed personnel on operational duty overseas will not pay income tax, and those who have served for a minimum of 12 years will be guaranteed a job in the police service, prison service or border force when they leave. Trident will be renewed.
BenefitsNew migrants to Britain will have to make tax and National Insurance contributions for five consecutive years before they become eligible to claim UK benefits. The bedroom tax will be scrapped and child benefit will be limited to two children for new claimants. Doctors will be required to notify the government if they believe a patient claiming disability benefits is well enough to return to work.
GovernmentThe number of MPs will be reduced and parliamentary constituencies will have to be of equal size. Unnecessary "quangos" and certain ministerial roles will be abolished. All subsidies for bars and dining rooms in the Palace of Westminster will be scrapped. Ukip will campaign for a new, proportional voting system and the public will have the opportunity to vote in more national referendums.
Extras
The HS2 "vanity project" will be scrapped, the Climate Change Act will be repealed and subsidies for wind and solar power will be dropped. A commission will look into ways to rejuvenate the coal industry, and fracking will be supported. Speed cameras will only be allowed where there is a specific potential danger, not to simply raise revenue. Maximum jail sentences for animal cruelty and torture will be tripled. Smaller breweries will be offered tax breaks; pubs and clubs will be allowed to open smoking rooms; and plain packaging laws for cigarettes will be reversed. Setting up a traveller pitch will be made illegal without permission and official documents will only be published in English (and, where appropriate, Welsh and Gaelic). St George's Day will become a bank holiday in England and St David's Day a bank holiday in Wales.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'It may not be surprising that creative work is used without permission'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
5 simple items to help make your airplane seat more comfortable
The Week Recommends Gel cushions and inflatable travel pillows make a world of difference
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
How safe are cruise ships in storms?
The Explainer The vessels are always prepared
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What next for Reform UK?
In the Spotlight Farage says party should learn from the Lib Dems in drumming up local support
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
UK's Starmer slams 'far-right thuggery' at riots
Speed Read The anti-immigrant violence was spurred by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport knife attack was an immigrant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published