Who’s in and who’s out of Kemi Badenoch’s new Tory frontbench?Kemi Badenoch has overseen a sweeping clear-out of senior figures from her frontbench
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Megan Howe, News Reporter2 minutes ago
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Kemi Badenoch has carried out a major reshuffle of her shadow cabinet.
It comes as the Tory leader seeks to sharpen the Tory’s attack on Prime Minister Andy Burnham and prepare the party for the possibility of an early general election.
Badenoch has overseen a sweeping clear-out of senior figures from her frontbench, while bringing a number of new faces into her top team.
Among the biggest casualties is Sir Mel Stride, who has been removed as shadow chancellor and replaced by Andrew Griffith.
Dame Priti Patel has also lost her role as shadow foreign secretary, with former security minister Tom Tugendhat returning to the Conservative frontbench to take over the brief.
Both Patel and Stride stood against Badenoch in the 2024 Conservative leadership contest.
The shake-up comes ahead of Parliament’s return on Tuesday, and just weeks before the Conservative Party conference in October.
The reshuffle signals Badenoch’s attempt to reset her top team as the Tories look to challenge Labour and Reform UK at the next general election.
Here’s a full breakdown of who’s in, who’s out and who’s moving in Kemi Badenoch’s new shadow cabinet:
Who’s out?
Sir Mel Stride – Sir Mel was the first big beast to be ousted by Badenoch in her Cabinet reshuffle. A veteran frontbencher, Sir Mel has held the post since late 2024, following Badenoch’s leadership victory. Following his departure from the frontbench, Sir Mel continues his parliamentary duties as the MP for Central Devon.
Commenting on his departure, Badenoch praised his tenure, noting that he had successfully helped the party rebuild economic credibility and effectively hold the government to account.
Conservative Party shadow chancellor Sir Mel StridePA
Dame Priti Patel – Dame Priti left her role as shadow foreign secretary on Sunday, to be replaced by Conservative former minister Tom Tugendhat. Commenting on her departure, Dame Priti said returning to the back benches would give her “greater freedom to stand up” for her Witham and Essex constituency in the Commons.
She said it had been “an honour” to lead the party’s foreign affairs team, citing challenges to the Government’s Chagos Islands deal and calls for stronger action to protect the UK from threats posed by China, Iran and Russia.
Dame Priti Patel will be returning to the back benches PA Archive
Sir James Cleverly – Sir James stepped down from the shadow cabinet to stand as the Conservative candidate for London mayor. He stated that the capital “needs more than an administrator” and that he required the independence of the backbenches to campaign across all aspects of London’s future. Sir James has been replaced by Katie Lam.
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Stuart Andrew – He has left Kemi Badenoch’s top team as shadow health secretary, to be replaced by former minister Damian Hinds. Mr Andrew stated that he chose to step down to return to the backbenches and shift his undivided attention toward local matters.
Nigel Huddleston – Mr Huddleston has left his post as shadow culture secretary after seven-and-a-half years. Announcing the move on X on Sunday, he said it had been “an enormous privilege” to serve in a number of frontbench roles, in both government and opposition, over the past seven years.
Helen Grant – She requested to leave her position as shadow attorney general as Ms Grant plans to step down as an MP at the next election.
Who’s in?
Andrew Griffith – He has moved up from the business brief to replace Mel Stride as shadow chancellor. Griffith is loyal to Badenoch and is an advocate for fiscal reform, including abolishing inheritance tax. Griffith has been an MP for Arundel and South Downs since 2019.
Claire Coutinho – She has shifted from energy to become the new shadow business secretary. Coutinho has been an MP for East Surrey since 2019. Widely regarded as a rising star within the party, she previously served in Rishi Sunak’s cabinet as the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero from 2023 until the 2024 general election.
Tom Tugendhat – He has joined the frontbench as the new shadow foreign secretary, replacing Dame Priti Patel. As a former army officer, Tugendhat has experience in foreign affairs and previously served in the cabinet as security minister from September 2022 to July 2024.
Tom Tugendhat will replace Dame Priti Patel as shadow foreign secretaryPA Archive
Katie Lam – She has been promoted from the whip’s office to shadow housing secretary. Lam was a special advisor to former prime minister Boris Johnson and worked on Rishi Sunak’s first leadership bid. Lam has been the MP for Weald of Kent since the 2024 general election.
Joy Morrissey – She is a former opposition whip who has been appointed shadow minister for women and equalities in Badenoch’s reshuffle. Ms Morrisey previously spent time in government as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury and has been the MP for Beaconsfield since 2019.
Kemi Badenoch has replaced Sir Mel Stride as shadow chancellor and is appointing Andrew Griffith (pictured) in his placePA
Andrew Bowie – The former shadow Scotland secretary will succeed Coutinho as the shadow energy secretary. He has served as the MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine since 2017.
Rebecca Paul and Harriet Cross, have been appointed as shadow culture secretary and shadow Scotland secretary respectively.
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Kemi BadenochTom Tugendhatmel strideAndy BurnhamJames Cleverly