Robert Jenrick has ruled out abolishing inheritance tax if Reform UK wins the next General Election, telling GB News it was not his priority.
The Reform UK Treasury spokesman discussed his party’s economic plans after it emerged Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch is set to announce her own intentions to scrap the levy.
Mrs Badenoch is said to be seeking to “go hard” on tax ahead of the next election, spying “weakness” in Andy Burnham’s Labour on the subject.
Reacting to the news, Mr Jenrick confirmed he was not planning a similar overhaul if he became the country’s next Chancellor.
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The Newark MP insisted his priority was providing “big tax cuts for working people, not for the super rich”.
He said: “Look at our tax policy: we have chosen to cut waste, foreign aid, net zero subsidies, the ballooning benefits bill, and use that money to raise the personal allowance to £15,000.
“Today I read that Kemi Badenoch is going to abolish inheritance tax, which is a tax cut predominantly for the well-off.
“So our priorities are very clear. It’s working people.”
Camillia Tominey cut in, asking: “So you’re ruling out cutting inheritance tax if you were Chancellor?”
“I am. It’s not my priority,” Mr Jenrick responded.
“I mean, if there was a chance to do it at some point in the future, maybe. But it’s not my priority because we are on the side of working people.”
The Reform UK Treasury spokesman previously discussed his thoughts on inheritance tax, suggesting he would cut it for the largest possible impact.
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“I do think you have to think, if you have some headroom and you want to deploy it, what has the greatest effect, what will help the people who are finding life toughest at the moment?” he asked at the Reform UK conference in Birmingham.
“If you were looking at income tax, there are 40 million income tax payers in this country, versus inheritance tax, where there are 36,000 estates a year.
“It’s a bold Chancellor to say I would rather privilege 36,000 families than 40 million taxpayers.”
At the conference, he predicted the issue could become “a divide” between Reform UK and the Conservatives.
Mr Jenrick said the Tories were becoming a “regional party” which could focus on “the sectional interests of the asset rich, the older, those who have got lucky in life”.
He insisted Reform UK, in contrast, were looking out for “the interest of everyone and the national interests”.
Discussing Mrs Badenoch’s rumoured plans, a Conservative spokesman said: “We have not decided our policy platform for the conference.
“Kemi has made no secret of her desire to cut taxes, singling out inheritance tax as one of those taxes she wants to cut in a speech last week.”
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