Farage insists Reform is not one-man band but warns top team against disloyalty

Nigel Farage has unveiled the first part of Reform UK's frontbench team, saying it shows that the party is no longer reliant entirely on him - while also warning that he will not tolerate any dissent from his colleagues.

- Peter Walker

Two of the four appointees are recent defectors from the Conservatives: Robert Jenrick, who takes on the Treasury brief, and Suella Braverman, whom Farage has put in charge of education, skills and equalities.

Richard Tice, Reform's deputy leader, who before Jenrick's arrival had been expected to have the Treasury role, has instead been handed a combined brief of business, trade and energy. Zia Yusuf, the party's head of policy and the only one of the quartet not in parliament, has been given the home affairs and migration brief.

Farage said the emergence of this team, with more posts to be announced soon, should end criticism that he runs a “one-man band”.

“This is about creating a machine for government,” he said, arguing that a previous “big gap” between his own polling and recognition and that of the party had been closed.

“Now, if I was hit by a bus tomorrow, Reform has its own brand, Reform has its own identity,” Farage said. “Reform now has its own senior characters with their own departments to lead. I'm enormously proud of that.”