Reform pledges new tax on hiring foreign workers

Reform UK says it would tax companies hiring foreigners, in order to reduce the National Insurance (NI) paid by employers on their British staff, if it won the next general election.

The party argues the move would force firms to put "British workers first, migrant workers second" and take on unemployed Brits.

It plans a graduated levy targeted at lower-paid jobs, with full details to be released following a consultation with businesses.

Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick said it would end "the cheap migrant labour racket once and for all".

He said that if elected, Reform would exempt British employees from last year's hike to the NI contributions paid by employers, whilst keeping the higher rate in place for foreign staff.

Speaking at a news conference in London, he said the party had estimated this tax cut would cost the Treasury £11.2bn, but he was "very confident" this could be paid for by the planned levy on foreign employees.

This would reduce in line with wages, he added, in order to reduce the "easy lever of cheap foreign labour" without penalising firms hiring "the most skilled people".

He suggested this would be set at £3,750 for companies employing foreign workers full-time at the minimum wage, an annual salary of £24,784 for those over 21.