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  "path": "/money/nigel-farage-vat-cut-pledge-white-van-man",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-10T21:41:02.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Supermarkets hit with £800million downturn amid fat jab craze as shoppers save £400 on groceries",
    "Andy Burnham backs compensation for millions of pensioners in direct challenge to Keir Starmer",
    "Bank holiday impacting millions of Britons prompts urgent update on £112.80 payments",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nNigel Farage has unveiled a £2.1billion pledge to raise the VAT threshold for small businesses from £90,000 to £150,000 as Reform UK attempts to boost support ahead of the Makerfield by-election.\n\nThe Reform UK leader announced the proposal during a press conference in the constituency on Wednesday, describing the measure as a \"fair deal for the white van man\".\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe policy would increase the turnover threshold at which small businesses are required to register for VAT.\n\nUnder current rules, firms generating more than £90,000 in annual turnover must register to pay VAT on the goods and services they sell.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nReform UK argued the existing threshold discourages some self-employed workers and small business owners from taking on additional work.\n\nAddressing reporters, Mr Farage said: \"To working Britain our message is simple — employed or self-employed, we are on your side.\"\n\nThe announcement was not accompanied by detailed funding plans, although Reform UK is expected to argue the measure could be financed through reductions in welfare spending.\n\nHowever, the Conservatives criticised the proposal, describing it as a \"fantasy promise\".\n\nThe press conference was also dominated by questions surrounding historical social media comments made by Reform UK’s Makerfield candidate Robert Kenyon.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nOne resurfaced post involved graphic sexual language directed at television presenter Carol Vorderman.\n\nShe has since demanded an apology from Mr Kenyon, but Reform's leader dismissed the controversy and defended his candidate during the event.\n\nHe described the posts as \"a few laddish things\" and argued the comments had been taken \"wildly out of context\".\n\nMr Farage said: \"They're the sort of comments that you won't necessarily get if you're an Oxford-educated career politician living in a nice postcode in London.\n\n\"But I tell you what, they are the kind of comments you'll hear in every pub in the country every evening, and we should be unapologetic that Rob is an ordinary bloke who’s carved quite a career for himself, had the guts to set up a business, served as an army reservist, is a patriot, likes his rugby, likes the odd pint, and said a few laddish things on social media 10 years ago.\"\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Supermarkets hit with £800million downturn amid fat jab craze as shoppers save £400 on groceries\n  * Andy Burnham backs compensation for millions of pensioners in direct challenge to Keir Starmer\n  * Bank holiday impacting millions of Britons prompts urgent update on £112.80 payments\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe added: \"Do you know what I'd say to that? I'd say, so what?\"\n\nMr Farage was also asked whether the controversy risked damaging Reform UK’s support among female voters.\n\nIn response, he suggested issues surrounding crime and public safety were particularly important to women.\n\nHe said: \"Whatever attempted smears they're going to make against my friend Rob over here, the truth of it is that it's women, and particularly mothers and grandmothers, that are the most concerned about the safety of their kids and grandkids on the streets of this country.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMr Farage continued: \"Law and order, safety on the streets, feeling their kids can go to concerts on Saturday nights and get home safely. I think these are bigger female issues than they are male issues.\"\n\nThe Makerfield contest has attracted national attention because of Andy Burnham’s attempt to return to Westminster as he positions himself as a potential future Labour leader.\n\nPolling and campaign analysis have suggested the right-leaning vote in the constituency may be split between Reform UK and Restore, the party led by former Reform MP Rupert Lowe.\n\nMr Farage also used Wednesday’s appearance to urge voters not to back Restore in the by-election.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Nigel Farage unveils £2.1billion VAT cut pledge in new 'fair deal for white van man'"
}