Nigel Farage Gives Robert Jenrick Plum Job As Reform's So-called 'shadow Chancellor'
Nigel Farage has declared Robert Jenrick will be his de-facto “shadow chancellor” within Reform UK.
As Reform has promised major tax cuts, the MP for Newark will have to field intense scrutiny over just how their sums might add up without causing major upset to the markets.
Jenrick only defected to the party last month, having served as the official justice secretary for the Tories under Kemi Badenoch.
During the same press conference, Farage announced MP for Boston and Skegness, Richard Tice, had been appointed as the “shadow business, trade and energy secretary” along with the title of future “deputy prime minister”.
He vowed to crack down on “net stupid zero”.
Farage also gave Zia Yusuf – who is not an MP – the Home Office brief, meaning he is in charge of Reform’s plans to crack down on immigration with mass deportations.
Former Tory home secretary Suella Braverman, who defected just three weeks ago from the Conservatives, was appointed as Reform’s shadow education and skills secretary.
She pledged to ban all social and gender transitioning in schools if Reform were to win the next election.
Farage insisted that this was just the “beginning of the process” for Reform, suggesting more “shadow cabinet” appointments would be coming up in the future.
He said: “With Labour’s growing instability, and Keir Starmer’s leadership on the verge of collapse, it is vital we prepare seriously for government.
“I am bringing together a strong, disciplined and experienced team ready to rebuild Britain.
“The British people deserve a real alternative. Today we are demonstrating that Reform UK is ready to provide it.”
Reform is not the official opposition – that title belongs to the Tories, who have 116 MPs – and this does not mean anything in terms of the UK constitution.
One of Reform’s own MPs, Lee Anderson, even slammed speculation of what the shadow cabinet could look like just last month.
Responding to an X user who pointed out that early predictions did not include Anderson in the line-up for the senior team, Anderson said: “Thicko alert.
“We cannot possibly have a shadow cabinet, we have spokespersons. I was made DWP Spokesperson last year. Carry on being a useful idiot for the Tory party, but you won’t get that safe seat you want. They’re laughing at you.”
However, Labour has referred to the party as its main challenger, especially as Reform continue to lead in the polls.
The appointments will be a test of Reform’s ability to prove it’s not just a one-man band but a party ready for power.
There are currently nine Reform MPs, four of whom defected after being elected as Conservatives in the 2024 general election.
Twenty-seven former Tory MPs have joined the rising right-wing party overall.
Reform’s opponents ripped into the new announcement as a sign Reform is just a new version of the Conservative Party.
Anna Turley, Labour Party chair, said: “Farage’s top team of failed Tories spent over 3,000 days inflicting untold damage on our country in government, trashing our economy, hammering families’ mortgages, and leaving our borders open. They failed Britain before – they’d do the same again under Reform.
“Today’s appointments clearly reveal that neither keeping our nation safe nor tackling NHS waiting lists are priorities for Farage or Reform UK. ”
Liberal Democrat leader Daisy Cooper said: “This Reform-Tory ‘Fifty Shades of Blue’ love-in is fooling no one.
“Robert Jenrick voted for Liz Truss’s economic disaster of a mini-budget, now he wants to do the same damage to the economy all over again.
“Nigel Farage is welcome to give his colleagues new name badges but it won’t change the opinion of the country - that Conservatives, current or former, are totally unfit to govern.”
Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: “After months of infighting and leaks, Nigel Farage has unveiled a front bench dominated by ex-Conservatives – a line-up that looks more like a tribute act to the old Conservative Party than a credible alternative.
“Even now, some are already eyeing their next career move, while others who were clearly expecting promotion have been left out in the cold.
“Today’s underwhelming announcement proves Reform remains a one-man band.”
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