Nigel Farage Proposes £1,000 Annual Boost for Low-Paid Workers Funded by £250,000 “Britannia Card” for Wealthy Foreigners

Nigel Farage and Reform UK have announced a controversial new policy intending to funnel money from high-net-worth foreign investors directly into the pockets of Britain’s lowest-paid workers. The plan, set to be revealed on Monday, involves offering affluent non-British residents the opportunity to purchase a special £250,000 “Britannia Card.” This card would grant them preferential tax treatment, with proceeds used to provide an annual payment of up to £1,000 to the bottom 10% of full-time UK earners.

Farage’s proposal aims to revive a version of the “non-dom” tax status abolished by the Labour government last year. This previous status allowed individuals with permanent residences abroad to avoid UK tax on foreign income. Under the new plan, those purchasing the Britannia Card would not be exempt from UK taxes on income generated domestically, including income tax, VAT, and Stamp Duty. Instead, they would pay a one-off £250,000 fee for the card itself.

The targeted annual payment for low-income workers is designed to encourage greater workforce participation. Farage emphasized, “We are the party of working people, and we’re building a Britain where wealth and opportunity are shared, not hoarded.” He added that the policy links wealthier contributions directly to those “who get up early and work hard,” with the goal of fostering a “fairer, stronger and more prosperous nation for all.”

Farage also underscored the importance of attracting and retaining talented entrepreneurs and investors: “Many talented people are leaving, and we want as many entrepreneurs, risk-takers, job creators, and investors as possible to be in our country.”

However, Labour has criticized the proposal sharply. A spokesperson told the Mirror, “Nigel Farage can brand this whatever he wants, but the reality is his first proper policy is a golden ticket for foreign billionaires to avoid the tax they owe in this country.” They warned that this “giveaway” could reduce tax revenue from the wealthy, potentially leading to higher taxes for working families or additional charges for NHS services.

As Reform UK looks to position itself as Labour’s main challenger ahead of the next General Election, the debate over the Britannia Card policy is set to stir significant discussion on tax fairness, immigration, and economic strategy.