Nigel Farage unveils Reform’s shadow cabinet including roles for Jenrick and Braverman
Nigel Farage has insisted that Reform UK is not a ‘one-man band’ as he unveiled his top team for the first time.
The Reform leader declared his party are ‘the voice of opposition to this government’ before revealing which high-profile politicians would become his spokespeople on key issues.
During a morning press conference in Westminster, Mr Farage admitted to his lack of experience in government, saying he has ‘an awful lot to learn’.
To fill that void in experience, he appointed two MPs who defected from the Conservative Party – Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman – to his shadow cabinet.
However, his top team has been labelled a ‘tribute act’, with one Labour MP saying it was ‘hardly even a shelf’ let alone a shadow cabinet.
Metro unpacks who the new Reform appointments and what they mean for the country.
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Robert Jenrick – Treasury spokesman
The newbie Reform MP would become the Chancellor if Nigel Farage wins the next general election.
Mr Jenrick, who controversially defected from the Conservative Party last month, has taken on Reform’s Treasury brief.
He gave away little about his economic plan for the country ahead of a press conference on the country’s finances slates for tomorrow.
In a punchy speech, he thanked Mr Farage for ‘giving me the opportunity to oppose the wrecking ball that is Rachel Reeves and this Labour government’.
Mr Jenrick – who held ministerial briefs in the Home Office in the Conservative government – declared that ‘taxes are clearly too high’ and said Reform would bring down the tax burden.
Zia Yusuf – Home affairs spokesman
In charge of Reform’s most important political issue – immigration – will be Zia Yusuf.
The businessman will become Home Secretary if Reform win the next election.
Yusuf described the small boats crisis as ‘the most profound betrayal of the British electorate in history’.
He added: ‘Those people, instead of being detained and deported, have been given free accommodation, free meals, free access to healthcare, free taxis, free leisure activities at the expense of the British people, to the tune of tens of billions of pounds every single year.’
Yusuf, who resigned as chairman of Reform in June last year before returning to the fold, warned illegal immigrants they would be ‘deported from these lands’.
Richard Tice – Business, trade and energy spokesman
Despite being Mr Farage’s deputy, Richard Tice missed out on one of the top shadow cabinet posts.
Instead Reform have insisted his new role in charge of a new ‘super department’ will be ‘very very important’.
The Bolton and Skegness MP will be on top of all things business, trade and energy with the goal of driving up economic growth to 4%.
He said he would achieve that by abandoning net-zero targets, instead using oil and gas to boost the economy.
Mr Tice added: ‘If we achieve those things then we can reindustrialise Britain, we can reenergise Britain, we can renew Britain and yes, we can rebuild Britain. These are absolutely essential to create growth.’
Suella Braverman – Education, skills and equalities spokesman
The newest Reform MP, who defected less than four weeks ago, has taken over another combined brief responsible for education, skills and equalities.
Railing against ‘diversity, equality and inclusion’ policies, Suella Braverman promised to ‘repeal the Equality Act’ from day one.
She said: ‘Why does no one in this Government seem to care that it’s white working-class boys who have the worst educational outcomes in our country today?
‘Do you know what a Reform government will do? Well, on day one, we will get rid of the equalities department, we will scrap the equalities minister.’
What have Reform’s opponents said?
Despite Mr Farage’s appointments, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch was clear that she thought he was still running the show.
She commented on X ‘One. Man. Band.’ after the Reform leader answered a question on behalf of Mr Jenrick during the press conference.
Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley said the new top team had ‘failed Britain before’ and would do the same again.
Referencing the role of Mr Jenrick and Ms Braverman in previous Tory government’s she 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.’
One Labour MP was even more despairing, criticising the small number of MPs Reform has in the House of Commons.
Jacob Collier wrote on X: ‘You can’t be a “shadow cabinet” if you only have 8 MPs. That’s hardly even a shelf.’
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