Buckland Criticises Reform UK as ‘Really Left‑Wing’ Amid Jenrick’s ‘Unite the Right’ Push

On 18 January 2026, former Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland told GB News that Nigel Farage’s newly formed Reform UK party had policies he described as 'really quite left‑wing'. He said this in response to the party’s founding MPs, including Conservative minister Robert Jenrick, who pledged to 'unite the right', a statement that drew criticism from across the political spectrum. Buckland’s remarks followed Reform UK’s announcement of a 2026 election platform that includes higher public spending on health and education, measures traditionally associated with left‑wing politics. The comments come as Reform UK seeks to capture voters to the left of the Conservatives while maintaining a right‑leaning stance on Brexit.