Reform UK promises £80bn cuts to public spending

Reform UK has pledged to cut £80bn of public spending within five years by reducing welfare, net zero policies, overseas aid and the number of civil servants.

Speaking from the party's conference in Birmingham, economic spokesman Robert Jenrick said he would like to cut taxes in Reform's first Budget if it wins power at the next election but would have to "earn the trust" of the markets first.

Reform would be the "party of fiscal responsibility", he said and promised to make "big changes... in a careful way, not a cack-handed way".

Labour said the proposed cuts were "incredibly reckless and could mean vital public services like hospitals, schools and law enforcement are put at risk".

The bulk of Reform's proposed cuts come from its previously announced plans to reduce the welfare budget by £50bn.

£10bn would be saved by cutting net zero programmes while £8bn would come from reducing the civil service and £7.1bn from capping the foreign aid budget.

The party says its immigration policies, including abolishing indefinite leave to remain, would result in further savings.

Reform plans to scrap indefinite leave to remain for migrants