The short version
- Robert Jenrick has appointed Mitchell Palmer, an economist from the Adam Smith Institute, as a key economic adviser for Reform UK.
- Palmer has publicly criticized the pension triple lock and advocated for NHS privatization, positions that diverge from some of the party's current stances.
- The appointment occurs amid internal tensions regarding the scale of proposed welfare cuts and the direction of the party's economic platform.
Robert Jenrick, the economic spokesperson for Reform UK, has expanded his policy team by appointing Mitchell Palmer as a senior economic adviser. Palmer is a right-leaning economist associated with the Adam Smith Institute, a free-market think tank. His selection marks a notable development in the party’s efforts to define its fiscal direction, particularly as Jenrick seeks to consolidate authority over the group’s economic agenda.
Palmer’s professional background emphasizes economic liberalism, often positioning him further to the right than Reform UK’s established policy platform. This ideological stance has already surfaced in public debates regarding key social policies. Most prominently, Palmer has argued that the pension triple lock is financially unsustainable. The triple lock guarantees that state pensions rise annually by the highest of earnings growth, inflation, or 2.5 percent.
In April, Palmer appeared on GB News to express disagreement with Jenrick’s support for the triple lock. He described the mechanism as an expensive method for ensuring pensioner dignity, suggesting alternative approaches that avoid what he termed an unpredictable ratcheting effect. Palmer contended that the policy disproportionately benefits retirees compared to workers, creating long-term fiscal strain as the ratio of pensioners to contributors increases. He also noted that younger generations may view the arrangement as inequitable.
Beyond pensions, Palmer has advocated for significant structural changes to the National Health Service. During a podcast appearance hosted by former Conservative MP Steve Baker, he stated that it was long past time to privatize the NHS. He characterized the current system as performing poorly, citing low cancer survival rates, rationing of appointments, and safety issues despite high spending levels. These views contrast with the party’s previous public commitments to protect public services.
Palmer’s economic philosophy also extends to immigration and taxation. In 2020, while working in the New Zealand parliament, he posted online that allowing economic migration serves as a powerful tool for global poverty alleviation. He argued that enabling individuals to earn significantly higher wages abroad is not exploitative but beneficial. Additionally, he has supported ending VAT exemptions and implementing a land tax, further illustrating his commitment to market-oriented reforms.
The appointment comes at a time of internal friction within Reform UK. Jenrick recently announced plans for steep welfare cuts totaling £50 billion annually by 2030 if the party gains power. Leaked government analyses suggest these reductions could slash incomes for individuals with terminal illnesses or permanent disabilities by up to £10,000 per year. This aggressive fiscal strategy has drawn criticism from within the party, where some members worry that such deep cuts may alienate voters.
Resistance to Jenrick’s approach is evident in recent communications from other party figures. Zia Yusuf, Reform’s home affairs spokesperson, recently posted on social media criticizing individuals with the title ‘Right Honourable,’ a designation held by Jenrick and several other defectors from the Conservative Party, including Suella Braverman and Nadine Dorries. This public dissent highlights the growing divide between those favoring radical tax cuts and those concerned about electoral viability.
A Reform spokesperson defended the hiring of Palmer, stating that Jenrick believes in employing intelligent individuals even when their views differ from his own. Meanwhile, Labour sources have seized on the appointment to reinforce their narrative about Reform’s intentions. They argued that the party has long signaled a willingness to sell off public assets and undermine ordinary people’s rights, suggesting that Palmer’s hiring confirms these concerns rather than surprising them.
As Jenrick bolsters his team, the party faces the challenge of reconciling its populist branding with hardline free-market policies. The inclusion of an adviser who openly critiques core protections like the triple lock and public healthcare ownership suggests a strategic pivot toward ideological purity. However, this move risks exacerbating internal divisions and complicating the party’s message to a broader electorate wary of drastic social safety net reductions.
The coming months will likely test whether Reform UK can maintain unity while pursuing such a distinct economic vision. With Palmer now in a key advisory role, his influence on policy formulation may become more pronounced. Observers will watch closely to see if Jenrick’s team adopts these liberal market principles or if internal pressure forces a moderation of the party’s most controversial proposals.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian World↗Reform’s new economic adviser has called for end of pensioners’ triple lock
