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Who’s who in the conservative shadow cabinet?

Who’s who in the conservative shadow cabinet?

The first shadow cabinet meeting under new Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch will take place on Tuesday.

While many positions have yet to be announced, here’s a look at the people appointed to the new-look Tory frontbenchers so far.

– Robert Jenrick, shadow justice secretary

It is understood the man beaten by Ms Badenoch in the last vote of Tory members has been offered the role of shadow justice.

Under successive prime ministers he served as immigration minister, health minister, housing minister and Treasury secretary.

Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch after the leadership result was announced
Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch (PA) after the leadership result was announced

He resigned from the immigration mandate under Mr Sunak, who has been a Newark MP since 2014, saying the Rwanda plan did not go far enough.

During the leadership campaign, the former lawyer advocated leaving the European Convention on Human Rights and called for a strong stance on immigration.

But Nigel Huddleston, one of the two new Conservative Party co-leaders, told GB News on Tuesday morning that reports that Mr Jenrick would be shadow justice minister “may be jumping the gun”.

– Dame Priti Patel, shadow foreign secretary

The second of the leadership hopefuls to be given a Shadow Cabinet role is returning to the Tory front benches after serving as Home Secretary under long-time ally Boris Johnson, during which time he launched the Rwandan deportation plan.

Priti Patel launches Conservative Party leadership campaign
Priti Patel launches Conservative Party leadership campaign (PA)

Dame Priti, who was first elected in Witham in 2010, was forced to resign as International Development Minister in 2017 after failing to disclose that she had met senior Israeli politicians on holiday.

– Mel Stride, shadow chancellor

Mr Stride, the third former leadership rival named by Ms Badenoch to the shadow cabinet, previously served as Treasury secretary and chairman of the Treasury Select Committee.

An MP for Central Devon since 2010 and seen from the more moderate wing of the party, he was work and pensions minister in Rishi Sunak’s government and was often seen on the morning broadcast circuit.

– Laura Trott, shadow education secretary

The MP for Sevenoaks since 2019, who previously served as work and pensions minister, joined Mr Sunak’s cabinet, which he backed in his leadership bid, as chief secretary to the Treasury.

A supporter of Ms Badenoch in the last leadership election, he made his Commons debut in his new role on Monday in response to the Government’s announcement of university tuition increases.

Shadow Education secretary Laura Trott speaks
Shadow education secretary Laura Trott speaks after Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson speaks about tuition fees in the House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA

– Neil O’Brien, shadow education secretary

The former health secretary was also on Commons duty in his new role on education questions on Monday.

The MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston was an adviser to George Osborne and Theresa May before being elected in 2017.

–Dame Rebecca Harris, chief whip

Interim chief Stuart Andrew announced on Sunday that he would be replaced by the Essex MP.

Dame Rebecca, who has represented Castle Point since 2010, has been whipped since 2018.

Nigel Huddleston speaks to reporters
Nigel Huddleston speaks to journalists after the Budget (PA)

–Nigel Huddleston, Conservative Party joint leader

It is understood Ms Badenoch told Conservative Party staff that their joint chair was chosen because of their extensive experience within the party.

Mr Huddleston, a supporter of the new leader despite being from a more moderate wing of the party, left the shadow Treasury team. He has been MP for Droitwich and Evesham since 2015, previously for Mid Worcestershire.

– Lord Dominic Johnson, Conservative Party co-chairman

The other co-chairman worked with the new party leader as business secretary and was deputy leader of the Conservative Party under Theresa May. During Lis Truss’ spell at Number 10 he served as investment minister. It was retained by Mr Sunak.

A major donor to the party, Mr Johnson has held various ministerial posts and co-founded Somerset Capital Management with former Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg.