With Farage still absent, it was Robert Jenrick left to unveil Reform's latest promises
As Nigel Farage avoids public appearances following revelations of a large gift from a crypto billionaire, Robert Jenrick fronted Reform's press conference on new, unfunded pledges for small businesses. Meanwhile, polls suggest the party's surge has stalled.
Nigel Farage has kept a low profile since it emerged he received a £5m gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. Once a fixture in front of television cameras, Farage has instead given only one gentle interview, to Talk TV's Jeremy Kyle, avoiding even GB News. In that interview he claimed immigrants were on the verge of forming a standing army to wage war against the UK, a claim that reportedly left even his interviewer struggling to keep a straight face.
As a result, it was Reform's Robert Jenrick who fronted the party's latest summer press conference, front-of-house duties having fallen mostly to him and Richard Tice in recent weeks. The event was billed as unveiling new, unfunded commitments aimed at small businesses.
The pledges
Among the proposals were a loosening of data protection rules, raising the VAT threshold for businesses to £150,000, and a £30 tax credit for anyone kept on hold with the tax authority HMRC for more than 30 minutes. Another pledge would let grandparents and parents invest up to £250,000 tax-free in a child's business.
Polling and internal tension
During questions, Jenrick faced scrutiny over rising energy prices linked to the conflict involving Iran, which Farage had previously argued the UK should join, as well as polling suggesting Reform's rise in support has plateaued. A reporter also noted the party still lacks spokespeople on defence, foreign affairs and health. Jenrick dismissed the concern, pointing to himself and Tice as evidence the party was not a one-man operation. Reform's party conference is due within the week.
