Kemi Badenoch is expected to appoint her former leadership rival, Sir James Cleverly, to the Conservative frontbench as part of a reshuffle of her Shadow Cabinet. The Leader of the Opposition aims to reinforce party unity and restore credibility following a turbulent period, with Sir James set to take on the role of Shadow Housing Secretary, shadowing Angela Rayner. Kevin Hollinrake will replace Nigel Huddleston as Party Chairman, with Huddleston moving to Shadow Culture Secretary. Stuart Andrew is to become Shadow Health Secretary, stepping in for Ed Argar, who is stepping down due to ill health.
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Ms Badenoch confirmed changes were imminent in a message posted to X, offering thanks to Mr Argar for his service and wishing him a full recovery. A senior Conservative source said the reshuffle reflects the “next stage of the party’s policy renewal programme” and signals continued unity under new leadership. Sir James, a former Foreign and Home Secretary, is considered a strategic return to help challenge the Labour government more effectively.
Having previously stood in last year’s Conservative leadership race, Sir James was once a favourite but was edged out ahead of the final vote between Badenoch and Robert Jenrick. His communication skills and ministerial experience have made him a frontrunner should the leadership be contested again, particularly if the party underperforms in next year’s local and national elections. Though the Conservatives are still lagging behind Labour in the polls, it is Nigel Farage’s Reform UK that currently leads, with some surveys placing the party at nearly 30 per cent.
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Sir James, currently MP for Braintree, has distanced himself from populist rhetoric, warning against extreme positions and aligning with a more moderate stance on climate policy. Speaking at the IPPR, he dismissed calls to “smash the system” as “complete nonsense” and criticised the party’s right-wing scepticism on net zero. The full list of Shadow Cabinet appointments is expected to be released on Tuesday afternoon.
