Former Ukip leader Paul Nuttall has re-entered frontline politics after being appointed vice-chairman of Reform UK.
Nuttall, who led Ukip briefly between 2016 and 2017, has largely stayed out of the public eye in recent years but is now taking on an internal role within Nigel Farage’s successor party.
According to a Reform UK source, Nuttall’s responsibilities will focus on election strategy and party growth rather than media appearances. “It’s purely internal stuff,” the source said, denying reports that he would lead a “six-week summer offensive” starting later this month. That campaign, the party clarified, will be spearheaded by Farage himself.
Born in Merseyside, the 48-year-old was elected to the European Parliament in 2009 and became Ukip’s deputy leader a year later. Though he initially chose not to contest the leadership following Farage’s resignation in 2016, he later took the reins after Diane James stepped down.
During his time in politics, Nuttall made six unsuccessful bids for a common seat, including in the Stoke-on-Trent by-election. He stepped down as a Ukip leader in 2017 after losing in Boston and Skegness at the general election. The following year, he left Ukip altogether, citing concerns over its ties to far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Nuttall later joined the Brexit Party, founded by Farage in 2019, which eventually became Reform UK.
His appointment comes amid reports that Reform UK is eyeing new recruits ahead of the next political cycle. The ongoing discussions about attracting senior figures from Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party ahead of the 2027 Irish elections were reported.
Meanwhile, a Conservative insider claimed Farage may have peaked too early, noting that prominent donor Lord Bamford recently contributed £150,000 to Kemi Badenoch’s campaign, despite speculation he was planning to switch allegiance to Reform,
