NIGEL Farage is set to announce Robert Jenrick as his Chancellor-in-waiting alongside a series of other senior appointments, a report claims.
The Reform UK leader will name his key appointments on February 17 to demonstrate the party’s preparation for power.
Jenrick is expected to be given the new position after being ousted by the Conservative Party and defecting to Reform last month, says the Times.
At a rally in Romford on Monday, Farage said: “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 [these appointments].
“Am I concerned? No, I’m relieved actually. I’m relieved that other people are taking up these big areas, and from [a journalist’s] perspective, on a given issue, you will know who to call.”
Farage is also expected to announce Zia Yusuf, currently the party’s policy chief, to be in charge of managing home affairs, overseeing policies on crime and immigration.
TRUMP’S DIG
Trump tears into Miliband over ‘inappropriate’ green deal with Democrats
PM’S NATO TARGET
Keir Starmer eyes major defence boost with plan to hit 3% of GDP by 2029
Another former Tory member, Nadhim Zahawi, is also said to be appointed a key position after he defected three days before Jenrick.
Zahawi is said to be put in charge of foreign policy at Reform.
Reform’s deputy leader and Farage’s long-term lieutenant, Richard Tice, is expected to be given a combined business and energy brief.
As Reform is not the official opposition party, it is not able to appoint a formal shadow cabinet.
The announcement of Jenrick’s new position comes after he was ousted from the Conservative Party by its leader, Kemi Badenoch, in January.
Badenoch claimed she booted Jenrick because she had seen “irrefutable proof” that he was going to leave for Farage’s party.
Jenrick had denied being promised any position in Reform’s shadow cabinet and told Times Radio that he was “pleased to be a part in any way I can do”.
He was given the shadow justice role when he moved to Reform.
The decision to appoint Jenrick as Treasury spokesman is likely to cause internal conflict with other party members wanting the position.
Yusuf and Tice had both previously shown interest in becoming Treasury spokesman.
Farage had previously said: “We haven’t had people who’ve actually been there in cabinet, in Number 10, and who understand how these things work. Who maybe understand why the system doesn’t work.”
Jenrick had previously worked as an immigration Minister under Rishi Sunak and also as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury under Theresa May.
Appointing Jenrick as Chancellor-in-waiting may help defend Farage against criticism that his party lacks experience in government.