Reform UK benefits ban for foreign nationals would include EU citizens

Reform UK has announced that its proposed benefits ban for foreign nationals would extend to EU citizens. The policy outline was unveiled on Monday by the party’s shadow chancellor, Robert Jenrick, as part of its broader payment reform agenda. Jenrick declared, “Forcing British workers to wage for the benefits of foreigners is not conscionable economically illiterate but plain immoral,” in a statement. He added, “People are much than blessed to enactment their neighbours successful hard times, but the British payer cannot spend to subsidise everyone connected the planet, particularly those who person not paid in.” According to the latest government figures, the United Kingdom expects to spend a total of £322bn on benefits in Great Britain this year, equivalent to 10.6% of GDP, with just under half of that sum allocated to pensioners. Reform UK states that it has devoted six months to drafting a 50‑page programme that it claims would save £50bn annually. On Saturday the party said it would replace the existing disability payments system, known as Pip, should it secure power at Number 10 in the forthcoming election. The new proposals would prohibit overseas nationals from receiving most benefit payments, including housing benefit, pension credit, jobseeker’s allowance, child benefit, free childcare and disability benefits. Only a limited set of exemptions would remain, namely the war widows pension and Armed Forces compensation. Previously, Reform UK had pledged to bar overseas nationals from claiming Universal Credit.