Nigel Farage is expected to name Robert Jenrick as his potential future chancellor, as part of a series of appointments of key Reform UK politicians on Tuesday.
The appointment of the recently defected former Conservative cabinet minister is likely to raise eyebrows within the party when the role had previously been widely expected to be handed to the former leader Richard Tice.
Tice, a net- zero sceptic, will instead get the brief of business, energy and industry. Reports on Tuesday also suggested the party’s former chair Zia Yusuf would become home affairs spokesperson, responsible for immigration policy.
Last year, Yusuf unveiled the party’s mass deportation policy, with the aim of deporting up to 650,000 people over a five-year period.
The roles are not a formal shadow cabinet as Reform UK has only eight MPs. But Farage is expected say that the appointments will counter accusations that the party is a “one-man band”.
Tice is reportedly being offered a combined business and energy role that would put him in charge of climate policy that he has dubbed “net stupid zero”, according to the Telegraph.
The former businessman led the party for several years before Farage returned to stand at the general election. Tice had previously hinted that he expected he would get the second most senior role in government due to his experience in business. “I’m not going to assume anything, but …” he told the BBC last year.
On Tuesday, Politico reported that there would also be a new role for a fifth, newly created great office of state alongside the Foreign Office, Home Office, Treasury and No 10.
Speaking at a rally in Romford on Monday, Farage said he was not concerned about a potential clash of egos. “I think the moment to properly move away from the potential criticism that we’re a one-man band has been there now for a few weeks, and that’s why I’m doing this,” he said.
“Am I concerned? No, I’m relieved actually. I’m relieved that other people are taking up these big areas, and from [reporter’s] perspective, on a given issue, you will know who to call.”
Jenrick, the former housing secretary and immigration minister who defected to Reform after being sacked by the Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, had previously denied being offered a role with Farage’s party before defecting.
Jenrick refused to confirm on Monday night he was being appointed as Reform’s Treasury spokesperson, but told GB News he was “very happy” with the role he was getting.
Reform UK’s lead has begun to narrow across some polls in recent weeks. On Tuesday, the latest YouGov poll showed Reform leading Labour by just five points, despite weeks of turmoil for the government and the departure of several senior figures from No 10.
