Kemi Badenoch reshuffles Tory shadow cabinet, replacing Patel and Stride

Kemi Badenoch has overhauled her shadow cabinet with a series of new appointments. The Conservative leader reshuffled her top team after James Cleverly, the former housing secretary, stood down from the party’s frontbench in order to announce his campaign to stand as mayor of London.  Among the casualties of Badenoch’s reshuffle were Mel Stride, the... Read more » The post Kemi Badenoch’s appoints new shadow cabinet: who’s in and who’s out appeared first on Politics.co.uk.

Kemi Badenoch during a press conference earlier this month.Kemi Badenoch has been accused of “shuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic” after she axed two Tory big beasts as she freshened up her top team.The Conservative leader sacked former cabinet ministers Priti Patel and Mel Stride in the second reshuffle of her leadership.Andrew Griffith – one of the architects of Liz Truss’s disastrous mini-Budget – replaced Stride as shadow chancellor, while Tom Tugendhat takes over from Patel as shadow foreign secretary.Tory rising star Katie Lam replaces James Cleverly – who is bidding to be the party’s London mayoral candidate – as shadow housing secretary.Another member of the Conservatives’ 2024 intake, Rebecca Paul, has been appointed shadow culture secretary.Former cabinet minister Damian Hinds returns to the Tory frontbench as shadow health secretary, taking over from the sacked Stuart Andrew.Other changes include Harriet Cross becoming shadow Scottish secretary.She takes over from Andrew Bowie, who is replacing Claire Coutinho as shadow energy secretary.Coutinho, who is currently on maternity leave, becomes shadow business secretary.A Reform UK spokesman said: “Kemi is simply moving the deckchairs around the titanic with this reshuffle.“She has promoted ardent supporters of net zero and the ECHR into senior positions, despite saying she wouldn’t . “The Conservatives haven’t learned a thing from their failures in office.”Labour chair Bridget Phillipson said: “Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives have learnt nothing since they were kicked out of office by the British people.“Promoting a key architect of Liz Truss’s disastrous mini Budget tells you all you need to know about Badenoch’s complete lack of judgement. “The Tories’ top team is crammed full of the same vandals who hammered family finances and left our public services crumbling. No wonder they’ve made no progress in the last two years.”Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

Kemi Badenoch and Mel Stride at a McDonald's in February.Tory big-hitters have been axed from the party’s frontbench team in a brutal reshuffle by Kemi Badenoch.Former cabinet ministers Mel Stride and Priti Patel have both been sacked by the Conservative leader.Shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew was also ousted as Badenoch shook up her top team amid speculation Andy Burnham could call a snap election.In a surprise move, Patel announced on X that she was leaving her post as shadow foreign secretary to take on an “international role” strengthening the Tories’ links with other centre-right parties around the world.She is being replaced by Tom Tugendhat.Stride’s sacking as shadow chancellor is a surprise as he had recently bolstered his backroom team with three new advisers. He has been replaced by shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith.Badenoch said: “Like Priti, Mel came into the job at an exceptionally difficult point for the Conservative Party.“He brought experience, seriousness and stability when those things were badly needed. He helped us steady the ship, rebuild economic credibility and become an effective opposition, and I am genuinely grateful for his contribution.”A senior Tory source said Badenoch wanted a new approach to the party’s economic policy.“Kemi is changing the way the Conservative Party approaches economic policy and creating a new economic leadership team for the next phase, focused on growth, higher living standards and fiscal credibility,” the source said.“The team will be led by Andrew Griffith, a no-nonsense, pro-growth shadow chancellor with real business experience.”Claire Coutinho, who is currently on maternity leave, is being moved from the shadow energy portfolio to become shadow business secretary and Griffith’s number two.A Tory source said: “Andrew and Kemi are in complete lockstep on how we back business, bring down taxes and regulation and get Britain working again.”In a post on X, Stride said: “The Conservative party must continue to champion an approach which is both radical and deliverable.“It is essential that the next Conservative government does things very differently, backing business like never before and getting government out of the way.“The Conservatives have a good story to tell on this now and one that I know will continue to grow stronger and stronger under Kemi’s leadership. I am now looking forward to continuing to make a real contribution to the Conservative team in parliament and beyond, to build and amplify our vision for Britain, from the backbenches.”James Cleverly has already announced he is standing down as shadow housing secretary as he bids to become the Tory candidate for London mayor.Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.Related...Priti Patel Out As Kemi Badenoch Begins Tory Frontbench ReshuffleKemi Badenoch Slaps Down 'Monstrous' Idea Of Tory Deal With Reform UK'An Insult': Kemi Badenoch Condemned For Making Former Neo-Nazi A Tory Adviser

Priti Patel Priti Patel has left her post as shadow foreign secretary as Kemi Badenoch launches a reshuffle amid speculation Andy Burnham could call an early election.In a surprise move, the former home secretary announced on X that she would be taking on an “international role” for the Conservatives to strengthen its links with other centre-riight parties around the world.She will be replaced as shadow foreign secretary by Tom Tugendhat in a Tory frontbanch shake-up which could take place as early as today.Her announcement came just a day after James Cleverly announced he was quitting as the Tories’ shadow housing secretary to run to be London mayor.Claire Coutinho, the shadow energy secretary, is also standing down to go on maternity leave, while shadow solicitor general Helen Grant will also leave the Tory frontbench.Patel, who is the MP for Witham, said: “I’m pleased to continue supporting Kemi and the Conservative Party in a new role strengthening our relationships with fellow conservatives and centre-right parties around the world.“At a time of profound global uncertainty, when our values and freedoms are under threat, conservatives must work more closely together.”She said it had been “an honour” to lead the party’s foreign affairs team, citing challenges to the Labour government’s Chagos Islands deal and calls for stronger action to protect the UK from threats posed by China, Iran and Russia.Badenoch will hope her reshuffle – the first since she became Tory leader nearly two years ago – helps to revive her party’s fortunes.Although her own personal approval ratings have improved, the Conservatives still trail behind Labour and Reform UK in the opinion polls.Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.Related...LBC Presenter Points Out To Priti Patel The 1 Obvious Flaw In Robert Jenrick's 'White Face' ClaimPriti Patel Challenged Over Kemi Badenoch's Claim Donald Trump Would Be A 'Force For Good'Badenoch Slaps Down Priti Patel For Defending Last Tory Government's Immigration Record