Who’s who in Nigel Farage’s ‘shadow cupboard’ of horrors filled with ex-Tories
Nigel Farage set out the appointments for his frontbench as he sought to counter claims that Reform UK was a ‘one-man band’ – which even the Conservatives said it was a ‘tribute act’
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage announced top frontbench jobs in London today(Image: Getty Images)
Nigel Farage has unveiled key posts in his “Shadow Cabinet” as he continues to swell his top team with failed Tories.
The Reform leader handed a plum gig to Conservative defectors Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman, and top jobs to long-time pals Richard Tice and Zia Yusuf. Mr Farage set out the appointments as he sought to counter claims his hard-right outfit was a “one-man band”.
The Reform UK leader told a press conference: “Too often the criticism over the last 20 months has been that we’re a one-man band, to which I generally respond by saying well, it’s better than a no-man band. But the time has come to broaden the party, to put in place people in shadow positions, and that process begins today.”
Even the Tories said Mr Farage – who was once a Conservative – was leading a “tribute act”. Chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: “After months of infighting and leaks, Nigel Farage has unveiled a front bench dominated by ex-Conservatives – a line-up that looks more like a tribute act to the old Conservative Party than a credible alternative.”
Also a quick fact check – it is not actually a Shadow Cabinet. That title belongs to the official opposition party; the Conservatives.
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Robert Jenrick
Tory turncoat Robert Jenrick was handed the plum job of Shadow Chancellor. In his speech, he ranted about “decades of mismanagement” of the economy. He failed to mention his time as a Treasury Minister under Theresa May, or the fact he served under Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.
While a Tory Cabinet Minister, he admitted he had unlawfully approved a housing development, which meant Conservative donor Richard Desmond escaped paying a tax bill of more than £40million.
Mr Jenrick has certainly been on a journey in politics. He started out as David Cameron-backing Remainer but has since transformed into a rabid right-winger, who ordered the painting over of murals in an asylum centre to make it less welcoming for children. His anti-immigration sentiment comes despite him serving as the Immigration Minister when use of asylum hotels ballooned.
Suella Braverman
Hard-liner Suella Braverman, one of Reform’s latest Tory recruits, was given the education, skills and equalities brief. Mrs Braverman went on rant about diversity and inclusion, and said she’d scrap the equalities department if Reform ever got into Government.
A highly divisive figure, she was twice ousted as Home Secretary – once by Liz Truss for leaking sensitive documents and once by Rishi Sunak for going to war with the police. Her list of controversies is long. She sparked fury by describing immigration as an “invasion” and once said it was her “dream” to see deportation flights take off to Rwanda.
Richard Tice
Long-time Farage crony Richard Tice would be Shadow Deputy PM, and will be appointed to lead a new Department for Business, Trade and Energy in Reform’s fantasy future. The net zero sceptic said the party would focus on using oil and gas to help boost the economy and would abandon climate targets.
He was co-leader of Reform before handing the reins back to Nigel Farage in 2024 in a humiliating loss of status. A rabid Brexiteer, he was a long-time Tory donor and member but quit the party in 2019 to join Farage’s old outfit, the Brexit Party.
Zia Yusuf
Wealthy banker Zia Yusuf is taking on the crucial Home Affairs brief – and promptly went on an explosive rant about deportations. He claimed “more people have turned up on our beaches uninvited in the last seven years than stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day.”
Mr Yusuf previously quit Reform in a fury over MP Sarah Pochin’s “dumb” call for a burka ban – but rejoined 24 hours later to lead an Elon-Musk style Doge [US Department of Government Efficiency] unit.
He was previously a Tory member but quit in protest at Rishi Sunak’s leadership, accusing the Government of failing to take difficult decisions.
