Nigel Farage has unveiled the first part of Reform UK’s frontbench team, which shows the party is no longer entirely dependent on him – while warning he will not tolerate any dissent from his colleagues.
Two of the four appointees are recent defectors from the Conservatives: Robert Jenrick, who took the Treasury brief, and Suella Braverman, who was responsible for education, skills and equalities.
Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform, who was expected to hold the Treasury role before Genrick’s arrival, was instead handed a combined brief of business, trade and energy. Zia Yusuf, the party’s policy chief and the only person in the quartet not in parliament, was given the brief on home affairs and immigration.
Farage said the creation of the team, with more posts to be announced soon, should end criticism that he is running a “one-man band”.
“It’s about creating a machine for government,” he said, arguing that the previous “huge gap” between his own polling and the party’s identity had closed.
“Now, if I get on a bus tomorrow, reform has its own brand, reform has its own identity,” Farage said. “The reform now has its own senior roles with their own departments. I’m very proud of that.”
However, he made it very clear that the new appointee could help shape policy but the final decision rested with him. Asked if there was any “internal turmoil” in the job-sharing, Farage replied: “I don’t know that yet. And if there is? It’s going to be tough. We’re not talking here. We don’t have time.
“Very simple. If people are confused, misbehaved or unfaithful, we will not tolerate it.”
Asked how he avoids a Conservative-style descent into “psychodrama”, along with Jenrick and Braverman, Farage replied: “Very simple. If people get confused, misbehave and disobey, they won’t be here long.”
This approach was evident in the conduct of press conferences, in which the bullish Farage often answered questions on behalf of colleagues, or in some cases refrained from answering them. “Write some crazy story,” he told her, dismissing the Financial Times reporter’s question.
In terms of policy, Braverman had a lot to say, announcing on her first day in government that she would summarily scrap her own Equalities Act and repeal the Equality Act.
Regarding education, she denounced the spread of liberal ideology in schools and instead of aiming for 50% of young people to attend university, she said it would shift to 50% training in trades such as electrician or carpenter.
Jenrick is due to hold his own press conference on Wednesday to outline some of the details of economic policy, saying a reform government would keep the Bank of England independent to set interest rates and not abolish the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
The moves are meant to reassure investors as the reform looms ahead in the polls. Jenrick is due to announce the changes to the OBR, however, bringing in outside experts to ensure “diversity of opinion”.
Asked whether voters should be suspicious of handing over reforms to two former Conservatives who served in governments, the reform leader said Jenrick and Braverman differed because of their resignations or “relaxation from their positions”. Braverman was fired twice as Home Secretary.
Farage, who has yet to set a May deadline for defectors to sign up from the Conservatives, has indicated that many are not expecting much income.
“There are very, very few people on the frontline of the Conservative Party – we are vaguely interested,” he said.
Anna Turley, chair of the Labor Party, described Farage as “a top team of failed Tories”, adding: “They have failed Britain before – they will do it again under reform.”
Conservative Party Chair Kevin Hollinrake said: “After months of infighting and leaks, Nigel Farage has unveiled a frontbench dominated by ex-Conservatives – looking more like a tribute to the old Conservative Party than a credible alternative.
“Even now, some are already looking at their next career move, while others are obviously waiting for a promotion.”
