Nigel Farage today outlined his party’s bid to ease the burden on British families taking a holiday this summer amid the Middle East crisis.

The Reform UK leader used an event at Heathrow Airport to set out plans to scrap air passenger duty (APD) on short-haul flights as the Iran war threatens a spike in fares.

Mr Farage claimed scrapping the ‘family holiday tax’ would be a ‘Brexit benefit’, with his party saying it would save families £45 on flights to Europe, or £48 on flights within the UK.

Robert Jenrick, Reform’s economics spokesperson, said – if the party won the next general election – it would abolish APD when an adult economy ticket is purchased alongside at least one under-18 ticket.

He said this would see a family save 23 per cent on the cost of their flights to Malaga in Spain.

Mr Jenrick, who defected from the Tories earlier this year, contrasted Reform’s plans with the Government’s hike to APD from tomorrow.

‘Remember, Rachel Reeves is actually increasing this tax,’ he said. ‘So whilst we’re cutting it at reform on the first of April, April Fool’s Day, of course, Rachel Reeves is hiking this same tax.

‘That’s the difference between Reform and this Labour Government.’

Nigel Farage today set out his party’s bid to ease the burden on British families taking a holiday this summer amid the Middle East crisis.

The Reform UK leader, sitting alongside Robert Jenrick used an event at Heathrow Airport to set out plans to scrap air passenger duty (APD) on short-haul flights

In response to US and Israeli attacks, which began at the end of last month, Iran has effectively closed the critical Strait of Hormuz. 

This has has caused shipments of oil and gas to grind to a halt and sent global energy prices soaring.

Britain’s last known shipment of jet fuel from the Middle East is due to arrive within 48 hours amid alarm over shortages within a week. 

Analysts have warned that a dramatic surge in jet fuel prices could push up costs for air travellers ahead of the summer holidays.

Mr Jenrick said British families would currently be planning their summer breaks at the same time as facing looming increases in energy and fuel bills due to the Iran conflict.

He said: ‘This is a time of year where millions of Brits will be going on holiday, catching some sun in Majorca or Tenerife.

‘And millions more will be sat at home over the Easter holidays thinking about booking a family holiday.

‘This year, of all years, that will be a tough decision because household finances are just so tight, and so we want to make it cheaper.’

Setting out Reform’s plans, Mr Jenrick added: ‘In our first Budget, we will get rid of the family holiday tax.

‘Air passenger duty will be gone for short-haul family trips, that will save a family on average £45 on their flights whether that’s abroad, or £48 if they’re going on holiday here in the UK.

‘That means that if you are catching a flight, for example, as a family to Malaga, you would save 23 per cent on the cost of your flights.

‘We appreciate that’s not a huge amount of money, but it’s an important saving that will make it just a bit easier, to have that family trip, to have a bit of fun, to get away and spend time with your loved ones.’

He said, under Reform’s proposals, the scrapping of APD would ‘apply to any holiday that is being booked for an adult travelling with those under the age of 18’.

‘That could be a mum and dad taking their kids on holiday, it could be grandparents, it could be uncles and aunts, and it can be school trips as well,’ he continued.

Mr Farage denied that the move would largely benefit the better off who take more flights, saying the move would be ‘equitable and fair in every way’.

Reform estimated their plans to scrap APD for family holidays would cost the Treasury £142million per year, which would be funded through the party’s proposals to save £40billion in annual Government spending.

This includes putting a squeeze on benefits and capping foreign aid. 

A Heathrow spokesperson said: ‘Aviation is crucial to the UK’s economy and high levels of air passenger duty are a barrier to connectivity and our ability to compete internationally. We welcome any proposals that would reduce air passenger duty.’

From 1 April, APD will be charged at £15 per economy flight to European countries and £8 per economy flight within the UK.

APD is only charged on the outbound leg for flights abroad from the UK, but is charged on both legs of journeys within the UK.

Reform’s savings were calculated on the basis of a family of four (two parents, one child over 16 and one child under 16) flying together.

Children under 16 are exempt from APD for economy flights.

A Labour spokesperson said: ‘Nigel Farage has constantly jetted off around the world since becoming an MP, bagging hundreds of thousands of pounds for himself in the process. Reform are not on your side.

‘Labour took the fair choice to hike tax on big private jets, which Farage opposed.  Only this Labour is delivering a serious plan to ease the cost of living for families. 

‘From this week, the lowest earners will get a pay rise, pensions are going up, and energy bills being cut.’