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Reform UK has announced its new top team as Nigel Farage seeks to prove his party is not a “one-man band”.
As Reform is not the official opposition – and only has eight MPs – the four new roles are not part of a formal shadow cabinet. Those with portfolios will be the party’s spokespeople on specific issues.
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However, Mr Farage insisted his party was “the voice of opposition” to the Labour government as he unveiled his first frontbench appointments.
Two of the four given spokesperson roles are recent Conservative defectors – and the most experienced politicians, having both been senior ministers.
Robert Jenrick – economy
Mr Jenrick, a former communities secretary under Boris Johnson, was named Reform’s economic spokesman barely a month after joining the party from the Tories.
He said he would be “a voice for the millions of people who are being failed by this Labour government” and pledged Reform would put together “the most comprehensive plan of any political party… to fix Britain’s broken economy” and cut the welfare bill.
Having switched from the Conservatives in January after being unceremoniously ousted by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch when his defection speech was found on a photocopier by staff, Mr Jenrick was one of Reform’s biggest signings.
The former housing secretary, immigration minister and shadow justice secretary has previously denied being offered a role within Mr Farage’s top team before defecting.
Richard Tice. Pic: Reuters
Richard Tice – business, trade and energy
Mr Tice will head up Reform’s business, trade and energy policies, and proposed a new “super department” aimed at increasing growth to 4% of GDP.
He said the UK needs cheap energy to be a rich nation, which involves using…
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