Farage vows to call ‘national emergency’ on day one

Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, announced during a speech at the party conference that he intends to declare a "national emergency" on his first day in office as prime minister. This emergency would be used to emphasize the country's challenges following years of governance by successive Conservative and Labour administrations.

In his speech, Farage also criticized Labour leader Andy Burnham for advocating for an additional 10 years of difficulties. According to Farage, the Conservative Party had been ineffective for 14 years in government. He vowed to shorten the time MPs spend out of parliament, requiring them to be present seven days a week to pass bills drafted by his government, including during the summer months.

Farage promised to hold a Budget within the first 100 days of his administration and cut £80 billion from government spending annually, with a target of £30 billion in additional savings due to reduced interest on national debt. Reform UK's economic spokesman, Robert Jenrick, also pledged to reduce household energy bills by £250 by eliminating carbon taxes from the emissions trading scheme, arguing that such levies posed a significant hardship for British households.

Party deputy leader Richard Tice warned that high energy costs posed a "national crisis" and would be a top priority for the new government. While Reform UK remains ahead of Labour in City AM/Freshwater Strategy polling, the party faces challenges from a resurgence in popularity for the governing Conservative Party and a recent boost in support for Kemi Badenoch, a prominent Conservative figure.