Reform UK no longer ‘one-man band’, Farage says as he prepares to announce ‘shadow cabinet’ appointments – UK politics live | Politics
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Labor and Conservatives brace for bigger losses after U-turn allows 30 local council elections
A minister has tried to defend local government secretary Steve Reed against opposition calls for him to resign over his U-turn on the postponement of May’s local elections.
Stephen KinnockThe care minister said Reed had done an “excellent job”.
Kinnock was being interviewed on behalf of the government this morning and asked about Reed’s position, telling Sky News:
Steve Reed is doing an excellent job as secretary of state, pushing the Pride in Place program, pushing reforms for tenants, tearing up all the bureaucracy and regulations that prevent us from building things in this country.
Steve is doing an excellent job as foreign secretary and will continue to do so and serve the British people.
Kinnock also said the LBC government’s legal advice initially said the delay was justified. He continued:
This legal advice has now changed. This is not ideal. I’m not going to stand here and treat you like one, but we are a government that operates on the rule of law.
Inside Times, Max Kendix And Oliver Wright One factor that led to the change of heart, they say, was that while governments have postponed local elections on a case-by-case basis in the past, Reed argued that this round of elections was relatively pointless anyway. They report:
There was another difference compared to last year. Local government secretary Steve Reed had been actively promoting the idea of canceling elections this year before announcing which areas, if any, would be covered.
Public will support canceling ‘meaningless’ election, Reed says in The Times “zombie” councils – calling them “time-consuming.”
Sources suggest that such statements contribute to the lawyers’ final evaluation. They recently hit back at ministers with a stern warning: if you keep delaying, you may have to fight Reform UK in court and there’s a good chance you’ll lose.
The decision taken yesterday means that the Labor Party and the Conservative Party are now preparing for even bigger losses in the local elections.
Inside I, Will Hazell reports:
According to a survey conducted by JL Partners TelegramWith the elections now due, Labor is expected to lose control of six councils: Blackburn and Darwen, Cannock Chase, Exeter, Preston, Thurrock and Worthing.
And a report In quotes from the Financial Times Professor Sir John CurticeThe leading election expert said the biggest impact of the U-turn would be on four county councils – Norfolk, Suffolk, East and West Sussex – three of which are currently controlled by the Conservatives. “These are big councils where all the seats are up for grabs and these are the sort of areas that should emulate the successful performance of Reformation last year,” Curtice told the paper.
UK unemployment rate hits five-year high at 5.2% as wage growth cools
Unemployment in the UK has risen to 5.2%, the highest level in nearly five years, while wage growth continues to slow, raising the prospect of a fresh cut in interest rates in the spring. Tom Knowles It has a story.
Most in future UK Reform cabinet will not be career politicians, Zia Yousuf claims
Most people in the reform UK cabinet will not be career politicians. Ziya Yusuf he said.
Today the party will announce some “shadow cabinet” appointments, the most prominent of which is likely to be Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick. Less than 18 months ago Jenrick came second in the contest to become Conservative leader.
But Yusuf told Times Radio this morning that the old Tories would not dominate Nigel Farage’s cabinet.
Yusuf said:
I would say to people listening to this that the majority of our parliamentary class will be made up of people who are new to politics.
I think the majority of Nigel’s cabinet, if we win and he becomes prime minister, will also be made up of people who are not career politicians.
Farage has repeatedly spoken of his desire to give cabinet jobs to non-MPs who have experience outside Westminster. Appointees may be given ranks, but Farage has also floated the idea of appointing some ministers who are not in parliament. This is constitutionally allowed, but has rarely happened in the past.
Yusuf is expected to be elected as the party’s home affairs spokesman today.
Yusuf criticized Jenrick on social media It was claimed that Reform had mixed feelings about accepting the former shadow justice secretary as a colleague before he left for England.
But Yusuf told Times Radio that Jenrick was valuable to the party. He said:
I got to know Robert quite well. And I talk to him almost every day. He is a thoughtful and serious man. I think he clearly believes the things he talks about and is extremely disappointed in the Conservative party.
And he is someone who already adds value by helping with his experience in government.
Reform UK no longer ‘one man band’, says Farage as he prepares to announce ‘shadow cabinet’ appointments
Good morning. Nigel FarageThe Reform UK leader is holding a press conference today and will “announce the members of his shadow cabinet”, according to the party. In Westminster politics only the official opposition (the Conservative party for this parliament) has a shadow cabinet, although other opposition parties sometimes use the term and, Looking at the poll ratingsIt’s not hard to see why Farage thinks he has a better chance of forming the next government than Kemi Badenoch.
Farage is expected to announce four appointments. Robert Jenrick, who recently left the Conservative Party, is expected to be appointed as Treasury spokesman. It is expected that the party’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, will be given responsibility for business and energy, and the party’s policy officer, Zia Yusuf, will be given the Ministry of Internal Affairs portfolio. There will also be a fourth appointment, but no clear guidance has been given yet as to what it will be.
At work Jessica Elgot‘s preview story.
Speaking at a rally last night faraj He said these appointments would show Reform UK was no longer a “one-man band”. He said:
I think it’s time to properly distance ourselves from potential criticism that we’re a one-man band, I’ve been there for a few weeks and that’s why I’m doing this.
Am I worried? No, actually I’m relieved. I’m relieved that others are occupying these large spaces and [reporter’s] you will know who to call regarding a particular problem.
The press conference will start at 11:00 in London.
Not much in the diary for today, but I will touch on other policies, including the ongoing backlash against yesterday’s U-turn on the cancellation of local elections. Kiran Stacey We cover this place in our one night story.
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