Kemi Badenoch brings back James Cleverly as Tory leader launches reshuffle
James Cleverly returns to front bench in shadow cabinet reshuffle
- Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has begun a reshuffle of her shadow cabinet.
- Sir James Cleverly has been appointed shadow secretary of state for housing, communities and local government.
- A senior Tory source said Sir James, a former rival of Ms Badenoch’s for the leadership, would help “take the fight to this dreadful Labour government”.
- The shadow cabinet reshuffle comes just eight months after Ms Badenoch was elected leader by Tory members and is an admission the party has been underperforming.
- Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, who also ran for the party leadership in 2024, is expected to miss out on a move to the highly coveted shadow chancellor role occupied by Sir Mel Stride.