Reform UK lays out plans for shadow cabinet as Nigel Farage looks to whip party 'into shape'

Reform currently has eight sitting MPs, including Mr Farage and five who have defected from the Conservatives.

There has been a battle for the top jobs in the party, with Zia Yusuf, Richard Tice and Lee Anderson long-standing members.

However, the arrival of high-ranking former Tory MPs such as Robert Jenrick, Suella Braverman and Nadhim Zahawi makes for stern competition.

It is the former, according to The Telegraph, who is expected to be announced as Shadow Chancellor.

In his speech on Monday in Birmingham, Mr Farage is expected to say: "I will be bringing together a team to build an industrial strategy, one that can rebuild our national infrastructure and security that has been dismantled by the Tories and Labour."

He expects a General Election within the next year, he will add, due to the Labour Party's "instability".

Sir Keir Starmer is facing more pressure than ever after his chief aide, Morgan McSweeney, quit and took "full responsibility" for the Peter Mandelson scandal.

His resignation prompted a passionate and emotional thank-you message from the Prime Minister.

"It’s been an honour working with Morgan McSweeney for many years," Sir Keir said.

"He turned our party around after one of its worst ever defeats and played a central role running our election campaign.

"It is largely thanks to his dedication, loyalty and leadership that we won a landslide majority and have the chance to change the country."

Senior Labour sources have since said the departure of Mr McSweeney leaves Sir Keir exposed, particularly as he heads crucial moments in his tenure, such as the Gorton and Denton by-election later this month.

On Monday, Mr Farage will attempt to position his party as the true opposition to Labour, arguing that a vote for Kemi Badenoch and the Tories risks keeping Sir Keir in power.

Speaking to GB News on Monday morning, Conservative chairman Kevin Hollinrake defiantly said he was "confident" of beating Reform.

"We're the most trusted on the economy, which is increasingly important to people, and the most trusted by business. I absolutely think we can take that fight to Reform."

He added: "People tried the Labour government because they thought governing is easy - governing is not easy, it's tough. You need a strong leader, you need a plan; we have all those things. I don't see any other party with the same characteristics."

Mr Farage will also announce that Reform has opened up its parliamentary selection process, looking to select the "brightest and best" for the next General Election.

His vision for Britain in 2034, after five years of Reform Government, will also be laid out.

Mr Jennrick told the People's Channel on Monday: "[Mr Farage] is going to set out the next steps, including, most importantly, that we're going to make a big offer to the country to come and be a Reform candidate, because it's important to have some people with experience, some people like myself, who chose to leave the old political parties and to join something new and exciting and fresh.

"But actually, you know what? We really want people who are business people, tradesmen, farmers, veterans, teachers, doctors, people who've run prisons or great hospitals, really good head teachers.

"We want people from outside of politics, frankly, who've been shunned by the two old failed political parties to come forward, stand for Reform and help us to build a very different political party at the next General Election, which may not now be in 2029.

"You can easily see a General Election happening next year now, or even sooner, as this failed Starmer administration tips into one in Angela Rayner, whoever it might be, and they themselves collapse into failure very soon."

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