Reform-linked thinktank ‘to call for big tax cuts for the rich’

A newly formed think‑tank, the Centre for a Better Britain (CFABB), linked to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, is set to release a 200‑page policy blueprint that would call for sweeping tax cuts for the nation’s wealthiest taxpayers. According to Bloomberg, the draft proposes abolishing inheritance tax and phasing out capital gains tax—measures that would eliminate two of the Treasury’s most lucrative revenue streams, which generated £8.5 billion and a record £24 billion respectively in the 2024‑25 fiscal year. The document, due next week, also promises a “big bang 2.0” deregulation agenda for the financial services sector and a proposal to split the Treasury’s economic‑growth remit into a separate department, signalling a radical shift in Reform UK’s economic platform ahead of the next election.

The tax proposals emerge amid heightened scrutiny of Reform UK’s funding sources, particularly the recent £72 million in donations from crypto entrepreneurs Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, each contributing £36 million within a 24‑hour window. Critics argue that such “mega‑donor” inflows could shape the party’s policy direction, especially as the think‑tank’s founder, former Reform chief operations officer Jonathan Brown, has previously advocated for curbing the authority of Britain’s courts and civil service—ideas reminiscent of the US “Project 2025” playbook. CFABB, which rebranded from Resolute 1850 in September after raising fresh capital, operates from Millbank Tower adjacent to Reform’s headquarters and counts former Reform head of policy James Orr as a former advisory‑board chair, though Orr was suspended from the party after an undercover investigation suggested involvement in a scheme to evade foreign‑donation rules.

CFABB’s spokesperson contested Bloomberg’s account, insisting the outlet was briefed on an early draft that does not reflect the final report and denying any “unfunded tax cuts” or a return to pre‑2008 regulatory frameworks. The spokesperson declined to specify which details were inaccurate but emphasized that the think‑tank will not be drawn into a point‑by‑point rebuttal. With a staff of only five, the centre’s influence appears amplified by its proximity to Reform UK and its role in shaping the party’s forthcoming platform, raising questions about how the proposed tax reforms and deregulation measures would affect public finances, the broader economy, and the political balance of power in Britain.

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