As new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch puts together her front-bench team, Mel Stride and Dame Priti Patel have been named as the shadow foreign secretary and chancellor, respectively.
In the contest to succeed Rishi Sunak after the July 4 election, Stride and Patel faced off against Badenoch, the now-Conservative leader.
Their appointments are the first to take precedence over the cabinet seats she has appointed for the so-called “great offices of state,” including foreign secretary, chancellor, and home secretary.
It is understood that Robert Jenrick, a finalist for leadership, has been named shadow justice secretary.
Prior to departmental questions in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon, during which education secretary Bridget Phillipson confirmed that university tuition fees in England are set to increase to £9,535 per year, Badenoch had earlier named Laura Trott her shadow education secretary and Neil O’Brien his shadow education minister.
Nigel Huddleston and Lord Dominic Johnson were named joint chairmen of the Tory party on Sunday, while Dame Rebecca Harris, an Essex MP, was named the party’s new top whip.
In preparation for her debut appearance against Keir Starmer at Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), Badenoch is anticipated to announce her whole shadow cabinet team before their initial meeting on Tuesday.
Stride and Patel were chosen to their positions in an attempt to bring the Conservative Party’s many factions together after the protracted leadership race, according to the PA news agency.
James Cleverly, the former home secretary, has ruled himself out of a post in her shadow cabinet, despite the opposition leader’s insistence that she provide all of her opponent contenders a position.
Prior to Stride’s appointment, former Treasury minister Andrew Griffith was being considered for the position of shadow chancellor. Claire Coutinho, the former secretary of energy security, and Julia Lopez, the interim shadow culture secretary, were also being considered.
Regaining council seats in local elections was reportedly Badenoch’s first challenge while speaking at Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) this morning.
She is also believed to have stated that the party can improve their circumstances in a single term and that a policy will be implemented shortly, but the party must first principles such as freedom of speech and personal responsibility.
