Angela Rayner brutally savages Farage's 'sweetheart deal' with billionaires
Angela Rayner took a brutal swipe at Nigel Farage's botched "sweetheart deal" with overseas billionaires.
Standing in for Keir Starmer at PMQs, the deputy Prime Minister lashed out at the Reform leader's 'Britannia Card' plan, which experts say will will give a £34billion "bonanza" to super-rich foreign tycoons.
Ms Rayner said she agreed that this was a "betrayal" of working people - and claimed "the mask has slipped". She made the remarks after Mr Farage was mocked by Labour backbencher Kanishka Narayan.
He asked the deputy PM: "The member for Clacton puts a singular burning injustice first - the plight of overseas billionaires.
"Does the Deputy Prime Minister agree with his priority or with me, that the reform UK doing sweetheart deals with the super rich is a betrayal of British working people?"
The Reform leader wants wealthy tycoons from overseas to pay a one-off fee of £250,000 in exchange for a string of tax breaks. But experts warn it could wipe a massive £34billion from tax revenues and give a massive tax windfall to overseas billionaires.
Ms Rayner responded: "My honourable friend is absolutely right, the mask has slipped again this week.
"The honourable member for Clacton (Mr Farage) demands billions more in unfunded tax cuts for the very richest while he marches through the lobby in the House of Commons to vote against sick pay for the lowest earners.
"We know who will pay Reform tax breaks, Mr. Speaker, for overseas billionaires - tax hikes on working people and patients being charged to see their doctor. Labour won't let that happen."
Earlier this week Mr Farage said he was "not clever enough" to answer questions about the hit to the UK's economy when challenged about the impact. He proposes creating a 'Britannia Card', which would see those who pay up offered a 10-year renewable residence permit and shielded from UK tax on their overseas income.
They will also be spared having to pay inheritance tax. The "Robin Hood" tax would see revenues distributed between the 10% lowest earners.
But analysis from the Tax Policy Associates found Mr Farage and co will offer a "much more generous regime for the very wealthy" than the Tories did. It said there would be "no wider economic benefit" from the windfall, which would be enjoyed by "a relatively small number of very wealthy people".
It estimates this windfall would be worth £34billion lost to the Government over five years. Labour chairwoman Ellie Reeves said: ' Nigel Farage 's new policy is quite simply a bonanza for billionaires.
'Not only is this a golden giveaway to the rich, but experts warn this will leave a massive black hole in the country's finances that working people will be left to pick up the bill for.
'Reform UK is not serious or credible. Every family in the country would foot the bill for their dangerous and unfunded Liz Truss style policies which would devastate Britain's economy.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Keir Starmer accused of failing in his mission to 'smash the gangs' as figures show only a tiny fraction of small boat migrants are prosecuted - as the Tories say the smugglers have 'never had it easier'
Keir Starmer was last night accused of failing in his mission to 'smash the gangs'. Figures show that just a tiny fraction of migrants crossing the Channel are being brought to justice. Since Labour 's leader became Prime Minister last July, only 446 people have been charged with any immigration offence, figures published by Parliament have revealed. Over the same period, a record 43,309 migrants have reached Britain after crossing the Channel in more than 700 dinghies. This comes despite Sir Keir vowing to tackle the illegal migration crisis by scrapping Rwanda deportations and focusing on tougher law enforcement instead. The number of those charged includes some offences not related to Channel crossings, so the number of small boat migrants prosecuted was even lower. There were 153 people charged between last July and this June with the key offence of 'assisting entry of illegal immigrant', which is intended to be used against those piloting each vessel, but Labour insisted the numbers have increased on their watch from 118 in the previous 12 months. Tory justice spokesman Robert Jenrick said: 'Keir Starmer boasted he would smash the gangs, but the gangs are laughing at him. They've never had it easier and crossings are up 50 per cent as a result. We're now heading towards being the illegal immigration capital of Europe. 'It's clear Starmer is incapable of stopping the boats and his backbenchers don't want him to. The country cannot go on like this. 'Those that arrive illegally from the safety of France must be swiftly deported so the message is clear: if you break into Britain, you will not get a life here.' He obtained the new figures in Parliamentary written questions after asking ministers how many gangs had been smashed since Labour came to power. In a Commons clash this month, he asked Shabana Mahmood: 'Can the Justice Secretary [Ms Mahmood] tell us how many individuals have been prosecuted for smuggling people in on small boats?' She replied: 'I do not have those figures directly to hand, but I am sure that if they are available, I can write to him with the details.' He accused her of not having 'a clue' about 'one of the biggest challenges facing our country right now' but she shot back 'had he paid any attention, he would know that prosecutions do not fall to the Ministry of Justice; they are dealt with independently through the Crown Prosecution Service'. Latest Home Office figures show another 1,387 people have reached Britain in small boats since last Thursday, taking the total for the calendar year so far to 23,891. A Labour spokesman said: 'Robert Jenrick can reinvent himself as many times as he likes, but he cannot rewrite history. 'With Labour in office, more people were charged with assisting unlawful immigration in our first year in government than in the entire time that Jenrick was in charge of the Immigration System. 'Indeed, we charged more people with that offence in our first three months than he managed in his last six. 'But much more important than Robert Jenrick's failures in the past are the ones he is making now, and we don't just mean screwing up this attempted attack story against Labour. 'If he was truly serious about prosecuting dangerous people smugglers, he would not have voted against our new law to criminalise people who endanger the lives of others in the Channel, and would instead be supporting us to take that action against those who cause women and children to suffocate and drown on overcrowded small boats.'
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Alexander Isak offered whopping £32M-A-YEAR deal from Saudi but star has heart set on record-breaking Liverpool transfer
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ALEXANDER ISAK has been offered a £32million-a-year deal from Saudi Arabia — but his heart is set on Liverpool. The Swedish striker, 25, told Newcastle he wants to leave after they knocked back the Reds' initial approach over a potential British-record £120m move last week. 2 Alexander Isak has rejected a big money move to the Middle East Credit: Getty SunSport understands he could now submit a transfer request to push for a switch to the Premier League champions. And he wants to head to Anfield despite the extraordinary offer from Al-Hilal, which would also see him land a £14m signing-on bonus and a host of other incentives. Isak would pocket £3.6m for winning the Saudi Pro League, £3.8m for lifting the Asian Champions League and a further £1.75m for finishing as the division's top scorer. Also on offer is £120,000 a month in personal expenses to cover travel for him and his family, a club house with four full-time staff and a full-time chauffeur. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Man Utd files Amorim considers shock striker deal as bankrupt legend is given busy schedule Isak would be provided with a private jet for him and his family whenever he is called up for Sweden duty. It would make him the fifth-highest earner behind only Sadio Mane, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez and Cristiano Ronaldo. But Isak only has eyes for Liverpool. The Toon are refusing to sell last season's 27-goal top scorer despite him not going on their pre-season tour to Asia. They have been unable to persuade him to sign a £300,000-a-week deal making him Newcastle's highest-ever earner. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK And they fear he could force a move by handing in a written transfer request. Newcastle are exploring a move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko as a potential replacement. Newcastle plotting Benjamin Sesko bid to replace Alexander Isak And they are planning a £35m bid for Brentford's Yoane Wissa after a £25m offer was rejected. New Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike, who snubbed Tyneside for the Reds, has dropped a big hint that Isak could be joining him at Anfield. The Frenchman cost £69m from Frankfurt and boss Arne Slot wants Isak to join him, Mo Salah and Florian Wirtz in a new-look attack. And Ekitike, 23, revealed how much he likes a strike partner. He said: 'I can play alone and also with another striker and that's what makes me versatile. "You know now in football you need to adapt." 2 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
PM signals UK will help Gaza aid airdrop amid calls for Palestinian statehood
Israel said on Friday it will allow airdrops of aid by foreign countries into Gaza to alleviate starvation in the Palestinian territory. The Prime Minister said the UK will 'do everything we can to get aid in via this route'. Sir Keir meanwhile faces growing calls to recognise a Palestinian state immediately, amid mounting global anger over the starving population in Gaza. Some 221 MPs from Labour, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Greens, Plaid Cymru, SDLP and independents, have signed a letter calling on the Government to take the step at a UN meeting next week. France's president Emmanuel Macron announced his nation would formally recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September, leading UK politicians to question whether the British Government would follow suit. US President Donald Trump suggested Mr Macron's announcement 'doesn't matter' as he left America for a visit to Scotland. But Sarah Champion, the senior Labour MP who organised the letter by parliamentarians, said recognition 'would send a powerful symbolic message that we support the rights of the Palestinian people'. Other senior Commons figures who signed the letter include Labour select committee chairs Liam Byrne, Dame Emily Thornberry and Ruth Cadbury. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey, as well as Tory former minister Kit Malthouse, and Sir Edward Leigh – Parliament's longest-serving MP – also signed it. The majority of those who have signed, 131, are Labour MPs. In a video statement released on Friday, Sir Keir made plain his desire for a ceasefire in the war. He said: 'I know the British people are sickened by what is happening. The images of starvation and desperation are utterly horrifying. 'The denial of aid to children and babies is completely unjustifiable, just as the continued captivity of hostages is completely unjustifiable.' The appalling scenes in Gaza are unrelenting. The UK will pull every lever we have to get food and lifesaving support to Palestinians, and we will evacuate children who need urgent medical assistance. This humanitarian catastrophe must end. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 25, 2025 Signalling the UK is willing to help get aid into Gaza via air, the Prime Minister added: 'News that Israel will allow countries to airdrop aid into Gaza has come far too late, but we will do everything we can to get aid in via this route. 'We are already working urgently with the Jordanian authorities to get British aid on to planes and into Gaza.' Children who need specialist medical treatment will be evacuated from Gaza to the UK, Sir Keir added. The Prime Minister also called for an international coalition to 'end the suffering' in Gaza, similar to the coalition of the willing aimed at helping Ukraine. Sir Keir had earlier responded to calls for the recognition of a Palestinian state, insisting such a move needed to be part of the 'pathway' to peace in the Middle East, which he and allies are working towards. He added: 'Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I am unequivocal about that. But it must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis.' In a statement released on Friday alongside the leaders of France and Germany, the Prime Minister urged Israel to stop restricting the flow of aid into Gaza. Charities operating in Gaza have said Israel's blockade and ongoing military offensive are pushing people there towards starvation, warning that they are seeing their own workers and Palestinians 'waste away'. The Prime Minister will meet the US president during his trip to Scotland, where he arrived on Friday evening. US-led peace talks in Qatar were cut short on Thursday, with Washington's special envoy Steve Witkoff accusing Hamas of a 'lack of desire to reach a ceasefire'. The deal under discussion is expected to include a 60-day ceasefire in which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others in phases in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Aid supplies would be ramped up and the two sides would hold negotiations on a lasting truce.
