Robert Jenrick is expected to call net zero efforts a “distraction” for the Bank of England in his first major outing as Reform UK's Treasury spokesman.
In a City of London pitch, Mr Jenrick will also say the OBR overestimated the benefits of low-skilled migration and will pledge to reform, but not abolish, the budget watchdog.
It follows Nigel Farage’s unveiling of members on his front-bench team, which included putting Mr Jenrick in charge of Reform's plan for the economy.
Mr Jenrick is to accuse Labour and the Conservatives of “taking more of the British people's money and spraying it around, with no regard for how hard they've worked for it or their priorities”.
Zia Yusuf was revealed as Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman, Richard Tice as its new business, trade and energy spokesman, and Suella Braverman as education, skills and equalities spokeswoman. Mr Farage said the team would form part of a cabinet if Reform won the next general election, calling his party “the voice of opposition” to Labour.
Sir Keir Starmer will be out and about in Wales this morning as he visits a number of railway projects aimed at modernising the network and improving commutes across the country.
Read MoreFarage promotes Jenrick and Braverman as he unveils new Reform front bench
Which parties run the councils where elections are no longer postponed?
Tories could be hit harder by local election U-turn than Labour, top pollster says
key points
- Farage announces Reform's top team
- Jenrick to unveil Reform's plans for OBR and Bank of England
- Suella Braverman pitches plan to scrap Equality Act
- Comment: By unveiling his shadow government, Nigel Farage has just lost the next election
What we are expecting in politics today
08:23 , Nicole Wootton-CaneGood morning. Parliament may be in recess, but it’s set to be a busy day in politics nonetheless.
Robert Jenrick, the newly anointed Reform UK Treasury spokesperson, is expected to say that net zero efforts have become a “distraction” for the Bank of England and the budget watchdog overestimated the benefits of low-skilled migration in a speech at 11am.
Sir Keir Starmer will be out and about in Wales this morning to back a number of railway projects aimed at modernising the network and improving commutes across the country.
Reports ministers are considering dropping plans to equalise the minimum wage between younger and older workers have been derided by cabinet members, who said it is “not government policy” to reconsider the manifesto pledge.
In a boost to chancellor Rachel Reeves, UK inflation has eased to its lowest since March last year on the back of falling petrol prices and slower food price increases, according to official figures announced this morning.
Minister denies reports government is reconsidering plans to equalise minimum wage
08:03 , Stephanie CockroftA minister has this morning insisted that the government is still committed to equalise minimum wage young and older workers.
Labour’s pledge to “remove the discriminatory age bands” in the minimum wage system is under review, The Times reported, amid fears the higher cost of employing young people could put off firms from hiring them.
But on Wednesday morning, Welsh secretary Jo Stevens denied the reports.
“There’s an unsourced briefing or whatever in the Times this morning, that is not government policy,” she told the BBC.
“Government policy is as we set out in our manifesto. We’ve had many naysayers over the years about the national minimum wage.
“People said in 1998 that it caused mass unemployment, and it didn’t. And every time there is a rise in the national minimum wage, people complain about it.”
Starmer speaks with Trump on Iran
07:55 , Stephanie CockroftSir Keir Starmer has spoken with Donald Trump, with both agreeing that Iran must never be able to develop nuclear weapons.
A Downing Street spokesperson said the pair spoke on Tuesday night, with the prime minister reiterating his condemnation of “Putin’s barbaric attacks on innocent civilians in Ukraine”, with the leaders discussing ongoing negotiations.
The spokesperson said: “Turning to the situation in Gaza, the prime minister reflected on the current situation in the region and the importance of securing further access for humanitarian aid. He set out his support for the ongoing work to deliver the US-led peace plan.
“The two leaders confirmed their joint commitment to promoting stability and peace in the Middle East.
“They discussed the ongoing talks between the US and Iran taking place in Geneva over Iran’s nuclear programme.
“Both agreed that Iran must never be able to develop a nuclear weapon and they reiterated the need to work closely amongst allies and partners to improve regional security.”
Inflation slows to 10-month low amid easing petrol and food costs
07:43 , Stephanie CockroftThe rate of Consumer Prices Index inflation has fallen to 3 per cent in January from 3.4 per cent in December, the Office for National Statistics has said.
You can follow our live blog here:
Live: UK inflation falls steeply to 3 per cent prompting hopes of interest rate cut
Why Keir’s latest U-turn has Farage laughing all the way to the bank
07:40 , Holly EvansI don’t know about you, but I’m feeling pretty darn peeved that I’m going to be paying Nigel Farage’s legal fees for his successful case against the government’s plan to delay some local elections.
Okay, I paraphrase – it was local councils who wanted to postpone the pointless contests for soon-to-be defunct local authorities, but it was central government that offered them the choice – and many councillors, staring defeat in May in the face, gladly took the opportunity for another year in power, allowances and expenses undecided. Granted, Farage didn’t actually have his day in court, but it was worse than that because the housing secretary, Steve Reed, presumably with the acquiescence of the prime minister, decided not to try and put up a fight.
Read the full analysis here:
Why Keir’s latest U-turn has Farage laughing all the way to the bank
Watch: Yusuf promises Reform will rip up treaties that would prevent deportations as Farage's top team announced
04:00 , Harriette BoucherReform accused of ‘pitching for votes of misogynists and homophobes’ with plans to scrap Equality Act
03:00 , Harriette BoucherReform UK has been accused of "pitching for the votes of misogynists, homophobes, racists and antisemites" after Suella Braverman, the party's new equalities chief, announced plans to scrap the Equality Act.
Nigel Farage used a press conference in London to unveil Reform’s top team, appointing Mrs Braverman as the party’s education, skills and equalities spokesperson.
Addressing the conference, she said Reform would repeal the Equality Act on day one if it wins the next election, claiming that Britain is being “ripped apart by diversity, equality and inclusion” policies.
The Independent’s Political Correspondent has the story:
Reform accused of ‘pitching for votes of misogynists’ with plan to scrap Equality Act
Yusuf declares himself 'shadow home secretary' in X bio
02:00 , Harriette BoucherZia Yusuf, Reform’s head of policy, has updated his X bio to “shadow home secretary”.
Yusuf, who is not an MP, was given the home affairs brief on Tuesday.
In announcing the role today, Mr Farage described Mr Yusuf as "relatively new to politics", adding: "He's only really been in the game for just over 20 months, but he's made a massive impression already, a very powerful public debater and television performer.
"Zia Yusuf will take on the role of shadow home secretary with, of course, particular reference to that one issue above all that has broken the trust of the British public with manifesto after manifesto just not telling the truth, I'm talking, of course, about both legal and illegal immigration."
Farage says Reform UK is no longer a ‘one-man band’ – so who is in his new top team?
01:00 , Harriette BoucherNigel Farage unveiled his party’s first front bench appointments on Tuesday, as the Reform UK leader attempted to dispel accusations that the party is a one-man band.
Claiming that Reform now “has its own brand, Reform has its own identity, and now Reform has its own senior characters with their own departments to lead”, Mr Farage appointed four key spokesperson roles.
Two Conservative defectors, Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman, were given roles, with the former being made the party’s so-called shadow chancellor, while the latter was put in charge of education, skills and equalities.
Mr Farage’s deputy, Richard Tice, was named as the spokesperson for business, trade and energy, while Zia Yusuf was named home affairs spokesperson on a promise to dramatically cut both legal and illegal migration.
The Independent’s Political Correspondent Millie Cooke has the story:
Farage says Reform UK is no longer a ‘one-man band’ – so who is in his new top team?
Jenrick to unveil Reform's plans for OBR and Bank of England
00:02 , Harriette BoucherRobert Jenrick will outline Reform’s plans for the Bank of England and OBR in his first major outing as Treasury spokesman.
The “shadow chancellor of the Exchequer” will call net zero efforts a “distraction” and say the OBR overestimated the benefits of low-skilled migration.
He will pledge not to abolish the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), instead promising "reform", and will say the Bank would remain independent if he were in No 11.
Ed Davey criticises Farage for not naming health or foreign affairs spokespeople
Tuesday 17 February 2026 23:17 , Harriette BoucherEd Davey has hit out at Reform’s leader for failing to include a health or foreign affairs spokesperson in the unveiling of his shadow cabinet.
In a post on social media, the Lib Dem leader said: “Not surprising Farage hasn't bothered to announce a health spokesperson - his entire team is populated by politicians who broke the NHS.
“They've also forgotten about a foreign affairs spokesperson, but I guess they will take their orders straight from Trump's White House anyway.”
Politics explained: Unemployment soars – how much will it hit Labour at the polls?
Tuesday 17 February 2026 22:40 , Harriette BoucherWith more teenagers getting to vote and youth unemployment at its worst level for a decade, Sean O’Grady looks at what the latest gloomy figures could mean for Keir Starmer’s government
How much damage will soaring unemployment do to Labour at the polls?
Farage wants to 'legalise discrimination', says trades union boss
Tuesday 17 February 2026 22:00 , Harriette BoucherThe general secretary of the Trades Union Congress has said that Nigel Farage and Reform want to legalise discrimination after the party announced its plans to scrap the Equality Act.
Paul Nowak said the proposals were “just the start” of Farage’s plans for working people.
He said repealing the Equality Act “means your boss could mistreat you because you're a woman, or black, or gay, or pregnant, or disabled, and there’d be nothing you could do about it.
“Basically, if you don’t look like Nigel Farage, or me, you could be in trouble.”
Suella Braverman, who announced the plans, said: “We will repeal the Equality Act, because we are going to work to build a country defined by meritocracy not tokenism, personal responsibility not victimhood, excellence not mediocrity, and unity not division.”
Former minister says Jenrick more capable than Braverman
Tuesday 17 February 2026 21:21 , Harriette BoucherFormer minister Laura Farris has said that Robert Jenrick is more capable than Suella Braverman, and was not surprised Mrs Braverman was “shunted off into a minor”.
Laura Farris, who previously served in government alongside both of them, told Sky News she is “not surprised” that Mr Jenrick got a better a job than Mrs Braverman.
“Rob Jenrick is more able than Suella,” she said.
“He's more intelligent and he's more hard working, and that's just a fact... It's not a secret across the entire House of Commons.”
Ms Farris said she believes Mrs Braverman will be “a very low-impact because she always is when she's anywhere near any sort of position, and she'll just say shocking things.”
Mr Jenrick was named as Treasury spokesman, while Mrs Braverman was put in charge of education, skills and equalities.
Comment: By unveiling his shadow government, Nigel Farage has just lost the next election
Tuesday 17 February 2026 20:53 , Harriette BoucherYou could almost hear Robert Jenrick’s ears prick up when Nigel Farage said: “If I was hit by a bus tomorrow…” Jenrick has secured a very good transfer fee for his defection, and today he claimed his prize of being named as chancellor in a possible Reform government, but he gives the impression of always wanting more.
There are certainly people in Reform who think that Jenrick’s calculation in joining the party was with an eye to taking over as leader if anything happened to Farage, but the man at the top was not in the business of naming his successor today. If he were the victim of the proverbial public transport accident, he said, “Reform has its own brand, Reform has its own identity”.
He was trying to say that the party was no longer a one-man band, and that it was now a professional outfit getting ready to assume the responsibilities of government. But almost everything about today’s news conference contradicted that impression.
Read John Rentoul’s column:
By unveiling his shadow government, Nigel Farage has just lost the next election
Watch: Farage pressed on why Reform chose non-MPs for top positions
Tuesday 17 February 2026 20:24 , Harriette BoucherWho is running in the Gorton and Denton by-election?
Tuesday 17 February 2026 19:41 , Harriette BoucherThe people of Gorton and Denton will be heading to the polls next week to vote in what is expected to be a major test for Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party.
Among the candidates hoping to be elected are a plumber, a GB News presenter and a retired police officer, as Labour tries to fight off the threats from both sides of the political spectrum to retain the north west seat.
In a bid to appeal to disheartened Labour voters in the historically safe seat, the Green Party is pushing local plumber Hannah Spencer, while ex-academic Matt Goodwin, who has been criticised for comments on race and gender, is on Reform UK’s ballot.
Meanwhile, local councillor Angeliki Stogia is fighting to defend Labour’s 13,000 majority, after the party controversially blocked the popular Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from running.
Elsewhere, nine other candidates from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and others will also be standing in the election on 26 February.
Politcal reporter Athena Stavrou takes you through who the candidates are here.
Who are the candidates running in the Gorton and Denton by-election?
In pictures: Farage announces Reform's top team
Tuesday 17 February 2026 19:18 , Harriette Boucher The 30 local councils where elections will now go ahead in May
Tuesday 17 February 2026 18:48 , Harriette BoucherThe government has abandoned plans to postpone local elections for dozens of councils in May after receiving legal advice against the move.
Of the 63 councils able to apply for a delay, a total of 30 were due to go ahead with the postponement.
The councils that were due to have their elections delayed were:
- Adur District Council
- Basildon Borough Council
- Blackburn with Darwen Council
- Burnley Borough Council
- Cannock Chase District Council
- Cheltenham Borough Council
- Chorley Borough Council
- City of Lincoln Council
- Crawley Borough Council
- East Sussex County Council
- Exeter City Council
- Harlow District Council
- Hastings Borough Council
- Hyndburn Borough Council
- Ipswich Borough Council
- Norfolk County Council
- Norwich City Council
- Pendle Borough Council
- Peterborough City Council
- Preston City Council
- Redditch Borough Council
- Rugby Borough Council
- Stevenage Borough Council
- Suffolk County Council
- Tamworth Borough Council
- Thurrock Council
- Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
- West Lancashire Borough Council
- West Sussex County Council
- Worthing Borough Council
Comment: Starmer’s local election U-turn will hit the Tories just as hard as Labour
Tuesday 17 February 2026 18:13 , Harriette BoucherGiven Labour’s dire position in the polls, the May elections were always going to deliver an adverse judgement of the electorate – but Nigel Farage’s Reform look set to make gains in the shire councils that were once solid Tory strongholds, says Professor Sir John Curtice:
Starmer’s local election U-turn will hit the Tories just as hard as Labour
Reform accused of ‘pitching for votes of misogynists and homophobes’ with plans to scrap Equality Act
Tuesday 17 February 2026 17:40 , Harriette BoucherReform UK has been accused of "pitching for the votes of misogynists, homophobes, racists and antisemites" after Suella Braverman, the party's new equalities chief, announced plans to scrap the Equality Act.
Nigel Farage used a press conference in London to unveil Reform’s top team, appointing Mrs Braverman as the party’s education, skills and equalities spokesperson.
Addressing the conference, she said Reform would repeal the Equality Act on day one if it wins the next election, claiming that Britain is being “ripped apart by diversity, equality and inclusion” policies.
The Independent’s Political Correspondent has the story:
Reform accused of ‘pitching for votes of misogynists’ with plan to scrap Equality Act
Watch: Yusuf promises Reform will rip up treaties that would prevent deportations as Farage's top team announced
Tuesday 17 February 2026 17:19 , Harriette BoucherFarage wants to 'legalise discrimination', says trades union boss
Tuesday 17 February 2026 16:59 , Harriette BoucherThe general secretary of the Trades Union Congress has said that Nigel Farage and Reform want to legalise discrimination after the party announced its plans to scrap the Equality Act.
Paul Nowak said the proposals were “just the start” of Farage’s plans for working people.
He said repealing the Equality Act “means your boss could mistreat you because you're a woman, or black, or gay, or pregnant, or disabled, and there’d be nothing you could do about it.
“Basically, if you don’t look like Nigel Farage, or me, you could be in trouble.”
Suella Braverman, who announced the plans, said: “We will repeal the Equality Act, because we are going to work to build a country defined by meritocracy not tokenism, personal responsibility not victimhood, excellence not mediocrity, and unity not division.”
Yusuf declares himself 'shadow home secretary' in X bio
Tuesday 17 February 2026 16:47 , Harriette BoucherZia Yusuf, Reform’s head of policy, has updated his X bio to “shadow home secretary”.
Yusuf, who is not an MP, was given the home affairs brief on Tuesday.
In announcing the role today, Mr Farage described Mr Yusuf as "relatively new to politics", adding: "He's only really been in the game for just over 20 months, but he's made a massive impression already, a very powerful public debater and television performer.
"Zia Yusuf will take on the role of shadow home secretary with, of course, particular reference to that one issue above all that has broken the trust of the British public with manifesto after manifesto just not telling the truth, I'm talking, of course, about both legal and illegal immigration."
Ed Davey criticises Farage for not naming health or foreign affairs spokespeople
Tuesday 17 February 2026 16:30 , Harriette BoucherEd Davey has hit out at Reform’s leader for failing to include a health or foreign affairs spokesperson in the unveiling of his shadow cabinet.
In a post on social media, the Lib Dem leader said: “Not surprising Farage hasn't bothered to announce a health spokesperson - his entire team is populated by politicians who broke the NHS.
“They've also forgotten about a foreign affairs spokesperson, but I guess they will take their orders straight from Trump's White House anyway.”
Farage responds to Reform candidate’s call for higher taxes on people without children
Tuesday 17 February 2026 16:23 , Harriette BoucherSharp rise in UC claims driven mainly by switchers from old benefits
Tuesday 17 February 2026 16:10 , Dan HaygarthThe steep rise in universal credit (UC) claimants in recent years has been driven mainly by people moving from older benefits rather than brand new claims, figures show.
The Department for Work & Pensions has for the first time published a breakdown of the proportion of claimants who have been switched to UC from so-called “legacy” benefits, such as income support and jobseeker’s allowance.
The total number of UC claimants in Britain stood at 8.34 million in December 2025, up by almost a million from 7.36 million 12 months earlier.
Data published on Tuesday shows that more than three-quarters of this increase (775,790) was due not to new claims, but instead were people who moved onto UC from other benefits.
Farage says Reform UK is no longer a ‘one-man band’ – so who is in his new top team?
Tuesday 17 February 2026 16:06 , Dan HaygarthThe Independent’s Millie Cooke takes a look at the politicians who have been handed the top roles
Farage says Reform UK is no longer a ‘one-man band’ – so who is in his new top team?
Starmer buys cufflinks given to him by Trump as gift for his son
Tuesday 17 February 2026 15:49 , Dan HaygarthSir Keir Starmer has paid to keep a set of personalised cufflinks gifted to him by Donald Trump during the US president’s state visit last year.
The prime minister purchased the item, which would otherwise have been held by Downing Street.
It is understood Sir Keir bought the cufflinks for his teenage son.
Details released by the cabinet Ooffice reveal Sir Keir also received a personalised necklace and a golf club from the president, while his wife was given a pair of cowboy boots.
Initially, Sir Keir paid to keep only the necklace, with other presents listed as retained by No 10. However, an updated register of ministers’ interests published on Tuesday confirmed he has now bought both items of jewellery.
READ MORE: Keir Starmer buys personalised cufflinks given to him by Donald Trump as gift for his son
Comment: By unveiling his shadow government, Nigel Farage has just lost the next election
Tuesday 17 February 2026 15:45 , Dan HaygarthReform’s front-bench team still looks like a one-man band, says John Rentoul – and the more ex-Tories it hoovers up, the less it will convince voters it can offer something new.
Read the column below.
By unveiling his shadow government, Nigel Farage has just lost the next election
Who is running in the Gorton and Denton by-election?
Tuesday 17 February 2026 15:29 , Dan HaygarthThe people of Gorton and Denton will be heading to the polls next week to vote in what is expected to be a major test for Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party.
Among the candidates hoping to be elected are a plumber, a GB News presenter and a retired police officer, as Labour tries to fight off the threats from both sides of the political spectrum to retain the north west seat.
In a bid to appeal to disheartened Labour voters in the historically safe seat, the Green Party is pushing local plumber Hannah Spencer, while ex-academic Matt Goodwin, who has been criticised for comments on race and gender, is on Reform UK’s ballot.
Meanwhile, local councillor Angeliki Stogia is fighting to defend Labour’s 13,000 majority, after the party controversially blocked the popular Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from running.
Elsewhere, nine other candidates from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and others will also be standing in the election on 26 February.
Politcal reporter Athena Stavrou takes you through who the candidates are here.
A plumber, a GB News presenter and a retired police officer: Who is running in the Gorton and Denton by-election?
Recap - Braverman pledged to scrap the Equality Act
Tuesday 17 February 2026 15:16 , Dan HaygarthReform’s new education and equalities spokeswoman Suella Braverman pledged to scrap the Equality Act at today’s press conference.
She said: “We will repeal the Equality Act, because we are going to work to build a country defined by meritocracy not tokenism, personal responsibility not victimhood, excellence not mediocrity, and unity not division.”
Mrs Braverman was pressed on whether the policy to get rid of the Act could impact birth rates, given its role in protecting maternity leave.
The MP for Fareham and Waterlooville replied: “Scrapping the Equality Act means getting rid of the pernicious, divisive notion of protected characteristics.
“But of course, in the workplace, people do require some protection, so of course, it’s all about making sure we strike a balanced approach, protecting those people in the workplace who have legitimate needs, but also getting rid of this whole industry that has grown up over the years, which is dividing people, dividing our country and doing so much harm.”
WATCH: Farage responds to Reform candidate’s suggestion people who don’t have children should pay more tax
Tuesday 17 February 2026 14:45 , Dan HaygarthNigel Farage has suggested people should be offered tax breaks for having more children, after he was asked about comments Reform UK’s by-election candidate made about Britain’s “fertility crisis”.
Last week,The Independent revealed that Gorton and Denton by-election candidate Matt Goodwin previously suggested people who don’t have children should be taxed extra as punishment.
When asked by The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke about whether he would back such a plan, Mr Farage said: “I wouldn’t want to tax anybody more, but you might give people tax breaks for having quite a few children given the cost of living is as high as it is.”
He added: “If part of our strategy going forward is to find some way that we can help young working people have kids in an affordable manner, that would be a very decent and good thing to do.”
The 30 local councils where elections will now go ahead in May
Tuesday 17 February 2026 14:22 , Dan HaygarthThe government has abandoned plans to postpone local elections for dozens of councils in May after receiving legal advice against the move.
Of the 63 councils able to apply for a delay, a total of 30 were due to go ahead with the postponement.
The councils that were due to have their elections delayed were:
- Adur District Council
- Basildon Borough Council
- Blackburn with Darwen Council
- Burnley Borough Council
- Cannock Chase District Council
- Cheltenham Borough Council
- Chorley Borough Council
- City of Lincoln Council
- Crawley Borough Council
- East Sussex County Council
- Exeter City Council
- Harlow District Council
- Hastings Borough Council
- Hyndburn Borough Council
- Ipswich Borough Council
- Norfolk County Council
- Norwich City Council
- Pendle Borough Council
- Peterborough City Council
- Preston City Council
- Redditch Borough Council
- Rugby Borough Council
- Stevenage Borough Council
- Suffolk County Council
- Tamworth Borough Council
- Thurrock Council
- Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
- West Lancashire Borough Council
- West Sussex County Council
- Worthing Borough Council
'Conservatives, current or former, are totally unfit to govern', Lib Dems say
Tuesday 17 February 2026 14:10 , Dan HaygarthLiberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper described Reform’s front bench as a “Reform-Tory ‘Fifty Shades of Blue’ love-in”.
She said: “Robert Jenrick voted for Liz Truss’s economic disaster of a mini-budget, now he wants to do the same damage to the economy all over again.
“Nigel Farage is welcome to give his colleagues new name badges but it won’t change the opinion of the country, that Conservatives, current or former, are totally unfit to govern.”
