𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Nigel Farage has fumed that he “can’t win” after a GB News reporter quizzed him on the unveiling of his party’s new front bench. He was asked why the appointments didn’t include the roles of shadow defence secretary and foreign secretary when they related to “the most important issues facing the country”. Farage quickly responded by suggesting that he “can’t win”, highlighting previous criticism of Reform UK as a “one man band” helmed by its leader.

Two Conservative defectors, Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman, were given roles on Reform’s front bench, alongside senior party figures Zia Yusuf and Richard Tice, in the announcement on Tuesday. Jenrick was made shadow chancellor while Braverman was handed the education and equalities brief, Yusuf the shadow home secretary role and Tice a new “super department” combining business, trade and energy.

GB News’ Christopher Hope said: “Quick question – why no defence secretary? Why no foreign secretary?

“These are the most important issues facing this country and our protection. Why have you chosen these individuals for the jobs particularly, and what about others [like] Lee Anderson and Sarah Pochin?”

Farage replied: “I can’t win! This time yesterday, we were a ‘one man band’. Now you want a busful. I mean, what can I do? I’ve appointed four people that I think are ideally suited to those roles, very straightforward, very simple.

“And I think if you listened to me carefully, at the end I said, ‘this is just the beginning’. And that’s exactly what it is.”

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The Reform leader also pledged to act as “the voice of opposition” to Labour and said the front bench appointments were part of an effort to “broaden” the party.

“Too often the criticism over the last 20 months has been that we’re a one man band, to which I generally respond by saying, well, it’s better than a no man band,” he said.

“But the time has come to broaden the party, to put in place people in shadow positions, and that process begins today.”

Farage added that he “will not tolerate dissent” in public amongst senior figures, promising to keep disagreements “behind closed doors” and avoid any “psychodrama”.