Nigel Farage blasts Angela Rayner over one policy in fiery ITV election debate clash
Reform UK Nigel Farage went toe-to-toe with representatives from six of the other main parties, including Penny Mordaunt and Angela Rayner.
The ITV Election Debate 2024: Nigel Farage claims “we are now the opposition”
Nigel Farage and Angela Rayner locked horns over Labour's plan to scrap private schools' VAT exemption.
Under Labour, private school fees would see 20 percent VAT slapped on them. Critics say that will force some parents to stop paying for their children's education and place increasing pressure on the state sector.
Nigel Farage, tackling the policy, said: "Look, you know, if you put 20 percent on private school fees all you'll finish up with, probably 25 percent of those currently in private school will then be a burden for state schools.
"It is self-defeating policy that removes parental choice."
Angela Rayner retorted: "Those schools could absorb some of those costs so they didn't have to pass it on."
The Reform UK leader shared a stage with Penny Mordaunt from the Tories, Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner, the deputy leader of the Lib Dems Daisy Cooper, Carla Denyer who is co-leader of the Greens, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn and Rhun ap Iorwerth from Plaid Cymru.
Earlier in the day the arch-Brexiteer refused to rule out leading a future "merged" Conservative and Reform party.
He told LBC: "I think something new is going to emerge on the centre-right. I don't know what it's called, but do I think I'm capable of leading a national opposition to a Labour Party with a big majority, where I can stand up and hold them to account on issues? Yes."
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Pushed by Nick Ferrari, Mr Farage was asked: "You'd be happy to lead a merged party?".
The candidate for Clacton replied unequivocally: "Yes."
He finished the discussion by saying: "I would be prepared to lead the centre-right in this country. A centre-right that stands up for small business. A centre-right that believes in borders. A centre-right that isn't scared of standing up for the British people."
