LABOUR attempted to divert from its own pre-Budget policy flip-flops by pointing out that Reform and Tory plans would be a “disaster for Britain” today.

The criticism came after a week in which Chancellor Rachel Reeves first indicated income tax rises were likely in her package to be announced in a week’s time, and then reversed course.

Labour Party chair Anna Turley said: “Reform and the Tories can argue all they like about who will return us to austerity faster — the fact is their plans don’t add up and would be a disaster for Britain.”

She slammed Reform boss Nigel Farage for risking “a trade war with Europe” and said Tory leader Kemi Badenoch’s “plan to bring forward £47 billion of cuts would mean money drained out of your local hospital, your child’s school, and your local police.”

Ms Turley pledged that the Budget would “deliver strong foundations for our economy and secure our country’s future, with no return to austerity and no borrowing beyond our means,” the sort of triangulation that has boxed the Chancellor in.

As part of his plans to cut £20 billion a year, Mr Farage also pledged to axe all welfare benefits for European Union citizens living in Britain.

Reform policy guru Zia Yusuf said it would give the EU citizens three months’ notice of the loss of their benefits, which it claimed should be reserved for British citizens only.

This would save £10 billion a year eventually, Mr Yusuf asserted, and would form part of a Reform government’s drive to negotiate Boris Johnson’s EU exit deal.

Other cuts will fall on the disabled, with Mr Farage looking to slash Personal Independence Payments (Pip), as well as increasing visa charges for foreign nationals using the NHS.

Today the Guardian published allegations from multiple people who were at school with Mr Farage that he had a record of making racist and pro-fascist remarks while there. Reform UK says the allegations are “entirely without foundation” and unevidenced.