Robert Jenrick has been named “shadow chancellor” by Reform after defecting from the Conservatives to Reform UK last month. He has overtaken both Deputy Leader Richard Tice and Head of Policy Zia Yusuf for the position.
Jenrick is set to deliver a speech in the City of London on Wednesday to present his economic plans. On Tuesday, he criticized the “decades of mismanagement” of the UK economy and vowed to “oppose the wrecking ball that is [UK Chancellor] Rachel Reeves.”
Tice, who also manages Reform’s government efficiency initiatives in local authorities, received the role of leading a new department of business, trade, and energy, and would become deputy prime minister if Reform wins the next general election.
He stated that the department would focus entirely on growth and prosperity and would discard the net-zero energy agenda in favor of increased offshore oil and gas use. A sovereign wealth fund to aid the UK’s re-industrialization is also being proposed.
Yusuf has been appointed “shadow home secretary,” tasked with crafting the party’s immigration and crime policies, while former Conservative Home Secretary Suella Braverman, another defector, has been named “shadow education and skills secretary.”
Despite having only eight MPs, four of whom switched from the Tories after the last election, Farage’s populist group continues to lead the opinion polls ahead of Labour and the Conservatives.
Bethany Dawson contributed to this report.
Leave a Reply