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UKIP to focus on 'blue-collar vote' at conference UKIP conference: Income tax cuts plan to be unveiled
(about 9 hours later)
The UK Independence Party is promising to focus on wresting the "blue-collar vote" from the Conservatives and Labour as it opens its annual conference. The UK Independence Party will unveil plans to cut income tax from 40p to 35p for people earning up to £55,000.
It starts on Friday in Ed Miliband's Doncaster constituency and will include speeches by former Labour members who have switched to the party. At its party conference, which starts later, UKIP will also promise to raise the amount people can earn before paying any income tax to £13,500.
A "radical economic policy" to "ease the burden" of tax for the low-paid will be unveiled. In a plan to win the "blue-collar vote", Nigel Farage's party will pledge to fund the changes by leaving the EU and cutting UK foreign aid by 85%.
The conference comes ahead of the Clacton by-election on 9 October. The conference is in Doncaster - where Labour leader Ed Miliband is an MP.
This follows the defection of Conservative MP Douglas Carswell to UKIP. He resigned the seat, prompting the contest, which party officials say they are hopeful of winning. At present the tax-free "personal allowance" applies for income up to £10,000, then a "basic rate" of 20% is paid on income up to £41,865.
The 40p rate is payable on income from £41,866 to £150,000, with the "additional rate" of 45% paid on anything over £150,000.
About 2,000 UKIP activists are expected at Doncaster Racecourse for the conference, with the party promising to unveil a "radical economic policy" to "ease the burden" of tax for the low-paid.
Mr Farage's speech at 15:00 BST will focus on "Labour's failure to represent the people for which it was founded", a spokesman said.
Analysis
by Robin Brant, BBC political correspondent
The spin is "this conference will be blue-collar not blokes in blazers".
A look around the venue at the early arrivers didn't quite live up to that, but attacking Labour and trying to woo voters in its traditional heartland is the major theme of this gathering.
It's no coincidence Nigel Farage has come to Doncaster Racecourse, literally next door to Ed Miliband's constituency, a few months after UKIP secured that Euro election win.
They see a gap in the market where a tough economy combined with a wave of immigration from Europe is testing loyalties.
Rumours of another high-profile defection persist; could it be Labour this time?
I'm told UKIP's millionaire donor Paul Sykes is "very satisfied" and likely to give again.
Those at the top sense a breakthrough in Clacton too, where they are throwing everything at the by-election effort.
A senior party figure told me they hope to add up to another eight MPs come the general election.
The "real horizon" though, they added, "is 2020".
'Deflect attention''Deflect attention'
UKIP leader Nigel Farage's speech at 15:00 BST on Friday will focus on "Labour's failure to represent the people for which it was founded", a spokesman said. The conference will "start a charge" leading to by-elections in Conservative and Labour constituencies, UKIP said.
Tax policy will also be put forward. In August UKIP said it wanted to cut taxes and take low earners out of income tax entirely. There will be by-elections in Clacton in Essex and Heywood and Middleton in Greater Manchester on 9 October.
The conference will "start a charge" leading to by-elections in Conservative and Labour constituencies, the party added. The Clacton vote was triggered by the defection of Conservative MP Douglas Carswell to UKIP, who resigned his seat to stand for re-election.
Mr Carswell is to give a speech on Friday with John Bickley, who will run in the Heywood and Middleton by-election. That contest was triggered by the death of Labour MP Jim Dobbin. Mr Carswell will speak at the conference later, as will John Bickley, who will run for UKIP in Heywood and Middleton. The vote there comes following the death of Labour MP Jim Dobbin.
Mr Farage has said the recall of Parliament on Friday to discuss airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq was scheduled to upstage the start of UKIP's two-day conference. Mr Farage has said the recall of Parliament on Friday to discuss air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq was scheduled to upstage the start of UKIP's two-day conference.
He added that Prime Minister David Cameron would "do anything he can to try to deflect attention away from UKIP". He said Prime Minister David Cameron would "do anything he can to try to deflect attention away from UKIP".
Philip Collins, chair of centre-left think tank Demos, said UKIP's stance was "absolutely bizarre".Philip Collins, chair of centre-left think tank Demos, said UKIP's stance was "absolutely bizarre".