Kemi Badenoch has announced a major shadow cabinet reshuffle, bringing Sir James Cleverly back to the Conservative front bench as part of what she calls the party's "mission of renewal". The former foreign secretary will now shadow Angela Rayner in the housing, communities and local government brief.
The shake-up sees several key appointments, with former Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden becoming shadow transport secretary. Sir James had been on the back benches since coming third in the Tory leadership contest last year, after serving as foreign secretary and home secretary when the Conservatives were in power.
Cleverly's return signals shift
The MP for Braintree has used his time away from the front bench to warn against pursuing a populist agenda similar to Nigel Farage's Reform UK. He has also urged the Conservatives to reject climate change "luddites" on the right, in speeches widely seen as at odds with Badenoch's net zero stance.
Tuesday's appointments also include Kevin Hollinrake as party chairman, replacing Nigel Huddleston, who becomes shadow culture secretary. Stuart Andrew will take over as shadow health secretary, replacing Edward Argar, who resigned citing health reasons.
New faces join team
Julia Lopez has been appointed shadow science secretary, taking over from Alan Mak, who has left the shadow cabinet entirely. Gareth Bacon has been replaced by Holden in the transport brief and demoted from the shadow cabinet, though he remains minister for London.
Badenoch said the changes demonstrate the party's ongoing renewal mission. "This new frontbench team reflects the rich experience within the party - from the tenacious campaigners fighting for Britain, to the experienced MPs who will keep holding this disastrous Labour Government to account," she stated.
Jenrick keeps position
The reshuffle confirms former leadership contender Robert Jenrick will remain in the shadow cabinet, ending speculation about whether Badenoch would keep him in his current justice role. Jenrick has built a prominent social media presence with campaigns ranging from tackling fare dodgers on the London Underground to immigration's impact on housing.
Badenoch emphasised that unlike Labour and Reform, the Conservative Party remains "unashamedly on the side of Britain's makers: the people that work hard, do the right thing and want to get on in life". The appointments signal her attempt to balance different wings of the party whilst maintaining opposition pressure on the Government.
Labour Party chairwoman Ellie Reeves dismissed the changes as "deckchair shuffling". She said the architects of "14 years of Tory failure" still sit around Badenoch's top table, adding that the Conservatives "haven't changed and they haven't once apologised for the mess they left behind".
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
