ReClaim Economy

Cut VAT on Essentials

• Temporarily reduce or scrap VAT on household essentials (food basics, children's clothes, sanitary products).

Support for Renters

• Freeze or limit rent increases for 12-18 months.
• Tax breaks for landlords who cut rents or keep them stable.

Boost Wages Through Tax Breaks

• Raise the income tax threshold so low earners keep more of their pay.
• Small businesses get NIC relief if they increase staff wages.

National Infrastructure Bank for Growth

• Invest in housing, energy, and transport via a state-backed bank.
• Creates jobs, improves services, and boosts productivity.

Reform Energy Market

• Consider partial re-nationalisation of the grid or water/energy supply.
• End profit-taking in natural monopolies where consumers have no choice.

Cost of Living Guarantee

• A binding government pledge: no household should spend more than 30% of income on essentials (housing, energy, food).
• Low paid household, help with energy efficiency, and solar power.

Digital Sales Tax

• Big tech and online giants pay a fair share, using revenues to cut VAT or fund cost-of-living relief.

Community Ownership

• Owned and controlled by the local members (residents, workers, or customers).
• Each member has an equal say, regardless of how much money they put in.
• Connected to Local Training scheme.

Free or Subsidised Solar Panels

• Government bulk-buys solar panels, driving down installation costs.
• Panels fitted at cost for households and small businesses.
• Over time, households save hundreds on energy bills - money goes back into the economy.
• Approve and support plug-in solar panels so renters and flat-dwellers can benefit too.
• Solar Fitting Training Scheme, Local Jobs.

Community-Owned Energy Cooperatives

• Towns and villages set up local energy schemes with government seed funding.
• Profits from selling energy go back to residents through lower bills.
• Keeps money in the community rather than paying corporate shareholders.
• Training Scheme, Local Jobs.

National Bulk-Buy for Essentials

• Government negotiates bulk purchases of essentials (heating oil, fuel, fertiliser, even supermarket staples).
• Savings passed directly to consumers, similar to how the NHS reduces drug costs.
• Creates resilience against global price shocks.

"Buy to Build" Housing Scheme

• State supplies land availability and materials in bulk at reduced cost.
• Families, cooperatives, or community groups can build affordable homes, cutting out middlemen developers.
• Reduces rents and mortgages + people have more to spend elsewhere.
• Training Scheme, Local Jobs.

Skills-for-Savings Program

• Free retraining in trades like insulation fitting, solar installation, and EV maintenance.
• Skilled workers then provide these services at cost price through local cooperatives.
• Saves households money and boosts employment.

Debt Relief via Energy Savings

• People struggling with debt can join a scheme where part of their repayment goes into energy-saving upgrades (insulation, heat pumps, solar).
• Their bills shrink, freeing up money to both repay debts and spend locally.

Zero-VAT on Green Upgrades & Local Goods

• No VAT on insulation, solar, heat pumps, or other money-saving upgrades
• Reduced VAT on goods bought locally to encourage community economies.