Reform UK floats skipping budget if it wins next election
The party said it might make major fiscal decisions "within days or weeks" of a win.
Treasury spokesperson Robert Jenrick suggested that Reform UK could begin enacting financial policies immediately after a general election, rather than waiting for a budget, according to his comments at the party's conference. He stated that there was an opportunity for the party to start legislating within a week of an election.
The Treasury typically provides at least 70 days' notice to the Office for Budget Responsibility to prepare economic and fiscal forecasts for major fiscal events. However, Jenrick proposed using statutory instruments to make significant fiscal changes, such as reducing the civil service workforce by over 100,000 to pre-Brexit levels, within days or weeks.
Reform UK initially planned to abolish the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), but Jenrick said he had decided to keep it and reform it, including examining the budget process. He emphasized that Reform UK would avoid the mistakes made by Rachel Reeves in being prepared well in advance with economic policies upon entering government.
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