It is parliamentary recess and once again, Reform is making all the running. Having successfully rebuffed Labour’s plans to cancel council elections yesterday, today they announced their long-awaited shadow cabinet.
The first four members of Nigel Farage’s team were unveiled at a press conference, with each stepping out on a podium to deliver a four-minute speech. The format resembled a game show like the ‘Weakest Link’ or ‘Take Me Out’. Each of the quartet was introduced, given a spotlight and then had it turned out when their time was up. Robert Jenrick was named shadow chancellor; Zia Yusuf was handed home affairs. Richard Tice, meanwhile, got a souped-up business, trade and energy portfolio. New girl Suella Braverman was rewarded with both the education and equalities briefs too.
The question now is whether Farage and his team can work together when times are tough
In each of the four speeches, the Reform MPs tried to set out the terms of debate on issues most favourable to the party’s political economy. Richard Tice’s vision is one of interventionism, with a sovereign wealth fund backing key strategic industries like steel. Robert Jenrick was straightforwardly pugilistic, hammering Chancellor Rachel Reeves on her record in office. Zia Yusuf’s focus was – unsurprisingly – on the small boat crossings, reiterating again his party’s focus on deportations. Suella Braverman‘s speech, meanwhile, dwelt heavily on what might be termed ‘culture war’ issues: DEI, transitioning in schools and the 50 per cent university cap. Strikingly, it was her comments that received the loudest applause from the Reform faithful in the room.
When it came to questions, inevitably, Farage handled the bulk of the inquiries. He ridiculed the efforts of Rupert Lowe to set up Restore Britain, saying:
‘Oh, Farage has done it. We’ll just set a party up. It’ll be marvellous. We’ll sweep the next election.’ It just isn’t as easy as that.
He dismissed, too, suggestions that his new defectors call by-elections with a handy new stat: of the past 100 Tory defections, only two have called such a contest. Jenrick will make a speech tomorrow outlining his economic vision, enabling him to defer questions on Reform’s thinking on tax and spend. There was no answer about whether Zia Yusuf will keep his previous role as Head of Policy alongside his newfound responsibilities. There was no talk, either, of the long-awaited outsiders coming in to buttress the ranks of the parliamentary gang.
The question now is whether – having handed out the prize gongs – Farage and his team can work together when times are tough, as well as when they are good.
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