Ukip sets out tax strategy

 By Natalie Holt

The UK Independence Party has set out its taxation plans ahead of the next election which would see the top rate of tax scrapped and low earners taken out of income tax.
In an interview with Prospect magazine, Ukip policy head Tim Aker discussed the party’s “blue collar” strategy which will be part of its election manifesto.

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He said: “We want to take low earners out of income tax altogether. No tax on the minimum wage.”
Aker said Ukip will pledge to increase to £45,000 the point at which the 40p rate of income tax is incurred, in order to “stop George Osborne’s fiscal drag for middle earners.”
He said the top rate of tax of 45p should be abolished, adding: “We are for flatter, simpler, and lower taxes.”
Ukip supports the cap on benefits, and is against the so-called bedroom tax. On public sector pensions, Aker said he started looking into it, then “got very scared and ran away”. Ukip is not proposing an increase in the retirement age