"Why is Reform playing it so safe?" | David Starkey looks ahead to local elections

I've made no secret of my admiration for Robert Jenrick; the 'Great White Hope' of conservatism who, in my eyes and the eyes of many others, should have won the leadership of the Conservative Party.

His move to Reform UK was a moment of genuine significance in the politics of the Right, and a major coup by Nigel Farage. However since his appointment as Reform's "Shadow Chancellor", the energetic radicalism that characterised Jenrick's rise to prominence seems to have ebbed.

He has used his brief to adopt what might be called a new Ming vase strategy, one based upon the catastrophic Labour Party policy of not committing to anything in opposition, only for them to use lies and spin when in office to justify punishing tax increases. That approach was capped this week when Jenrick committed Reform to keeping the triple lock on pensions; an arguably unjustifiable expense given the financial straits Britain finds itself in.

My regular political correspondent Mark Littlewood assuages my concerns, however. As he explains, Reform is facing a unique challenge, maintaining its radical proposition while persuading a broad enough coalition of voters that they can be responsible custodians of the State. This is an incredibly tricky balancing act that will require strict prioritisation and judicious picking of battles.

As we count down to the local elections, the Reform high wire act will be buffeted and tested by the strongest winds yet.