Reform UK has introduced its new high group as Nigel Farage seeks to show his social gathering is just not a “one-man band”.
As Reform is just not the official opposition – and solely has eight MPs – the 4 new roles aren’t a part of a proper shadow cupboard. These with portfolios would be the social gathering’s spokespeople on particular points.
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Nonetheless, Mr Farage insisted his social gathering was “the voice of opposition” to the Labour authorities as he unveiled his first frontbench appointments.
Zia Yusuf, Robert Jenrick, Nigel Farage, Richard Tice and Suella Braverman. Pic: PA
Two of the 4 given spokesperson roles are current Conservative defectors – and essentially the most skilled politicians, having each been senior ministers.
Robert Jenrick. Pic: Reuters
Robert Jenrick – economic system
Mr Jenrick, a former communities secretary underneath Boris Johnson, was named Reform’s financial spokesman barely a month after becoming a member of the social gathering from the Tories.
He mentioned he could be “a voice for the thousands and thousands of people who find themselves being failed by this Labour authorities” and pledged Reform would put collectively “essentially the most complete plan of any political social gathering… to repair Britain’s damaged economic system” and minimize the welfare invoice.
Having switched from the Conservatives in January after being unceremoniously ousted by Tory chief Kemi Badenoch when his defection speech was discovered on a photocopier by employees, Mr Jenrick was one among Reform’s greatest signings.
The previous housing secretary, immigration minister and shadow justice secretary has beforehand denied being supplied a task inside Mr Farage’s high group earlier than defecting.
Richard Tice. Pic: Reuters
Richard Tice – enterprise, commerce and vitality
Mr Tice will head up Reform’s enterprise, commerce and vitality insurance policies, and proposed a brand new “tremendous division” aimed toward rising development to 4% of GDP.
He mentioned the UK wants low-cost vitality to be a wealthy nation, which includes utilizing its oil, offshore and onshore gasoline.
Mr Tice mentioned the social gathering would give attention to utilizing oil and gasoline to assist increase the economic system and would abandon net-zero targets.
The multi-millionaire businessman-turned-MP led Reform for 3 years till Mr Farage determined, forward of the 2024 election, he was going to be chief as a substitute.
A net-zero sceptic, Mr Tice has been the social gathering’s deputy chief since then and was elected as Boston and Skegness’s MP in 2024, having served as an MEP for the East of England previous to that.
Zia Yusuf. Pic: Reuters
Zia Yusuf – dwelling affairs and justice
Mr Yusuf, who is just not an MP, will take the lead on dwelling insurance policies, together with immigration.
The multi-millionaire businessman, whose medic mother and father got here to the UK from Sri Lanka within the Eighties, mentioned the sheer scale of immigration over the past three many years “has damaged Britain”.
He mentioned if Reform gained the subsequent election the social gathering would “cease the boats”, deport unlawful immigrants, go away the ECHR, tackle “radical Islam” and forcibly deport international criminals.
Mr Yusuf, the social gathering’s former chair, has served as head of coverage and was beforehand head of Reform’s division of presidency effectivity.
The multi-millionaire was Reform’s largest donor within the run-up to the 2024 basic election and has change into a outstanding spokesman, particularly on immigration.
Suella Braverman. Pic: Reuters
Suella Braverman – training, expertise and equality
Reform’s newest Conservative recruit, and as a former dwelling secretary – the social gathering’s most skilled MP – Ms Braverman will head up its training insurance policies.
A former chair of Britain’s “strictest faculty”, Michaela Neighborhood Faculty, she mentioned Reform would replicate the varsity’s success throughout the UK, “restore freedom to our colleges and restore authority to our academics”, whereas delivering a “patriotic, balanced curriculum”.
She promised to ban “social and gender transitioning” in all colleges and to make sure fewer individuals go to college with 50% of younger individuals going into the trades as a substitute.
Ms Braverman mentioned Reform would eliminate the equalities division and construct a rustic “outlined by meritocracy not tokenism, private duty not victimhood, excellence not mediocrity, and unity not division”.
The remaining Reform MPs who haven’t been given a job:
Lee Anderson – chief whip, ex-Tory and the primary sitting MP to defect to Reform
Sarah Pochin – Reform’s first feminine MP after successful the Runcorn and Helsby by-election in Could 2025
Danny Kruger – former Conservative shadow minister who defected in September 2025
Andrew Rosindell – the longest-serving MP (he has been Romford’s MP since 2001), who defected from the Tories in January
