Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party, has unveiled her full shadow cabinet, with appointments designed to unite various factions within the party as it recovers from its crushing defeat in the July general election. Among the key appointments is Chris Philp, who will serve as the shadow home secretary. Philp, a former Home Office minister, was a strong supporter of Badenoch during her leadership campaign.
Key Appointments
- Robert Jenrick, who finished as a runner-up in the final round of the leadership contest, has been appointed shadow justice secretary.
- Mel Stride, another of Badenoch’s rivals, has been named shadow chancellor.
- Dame Priti Patel, former home secretary, has been given the role of shadow foreign secretary.
- Ed Argar, who has served as a justice and health minister in the past, is now the shadow health and social care secretary.
- Claire Coutinho retains her role as shadow secretary of state for energy security and net zero and has also been given the shadow equalities brief.
Other notable appointments include:
- James Cartlidge as shadow defence secretary.
- Andrew Griffith as shadow business secretary.
- Helen Whately as shadow work and pensions secretary.
- Kevin Hollinrake as shadow levelling up, housing and communities secretary.
- Victoria Atkins as shadow environment, food and rural affairs secretary.
Former Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott, already confirmed as shadow education secretary, and Neil O’Brien as shadow education minister, also featured in the new shadow cabinet lineup.
Leadership Race Aftermath
Badenoch’s cabinet features heavy representation from those who supported her leadership bid. Of the appointed members, 15 backed her candidacy, five remained neutral, and only three supported Robert Jenrick. This lineup has raised concerns among some in the party, particularly those who supported Jenrick. One senior Conservative figure pointed out that the absence of more right-wing voices in the shadow cabinet could fuel unrest among Conservative MPs who were aligned with Jenrick’s campaign, potentially leading to further divisions within the party.
Badenoch has made a deliberate effort to bring in former rivals from the leadership race, including Jenrick and Patel, with the hope of fostering unity within the Conservative Party. Despite the apparent inclusivity, the shadow cabinet lineup has been described by some as strikingly similar to what Rishi Sunak might have appointed, suggesting continuity rather than radical change.
Aiming for Unity and Rebuilding the Party
In her comments, Badenoch emphasized that her shadow cabinet “draws on the talents of people from across the Conservative Party,” stressing a focus on meritocracy and diversity of experience. She also made it clear that the party’s priority is to hold the Labour government to account while revitalizing the Conservative Party by adhering to its core principles and values.
Badenoch’s leadership aims to rebuild the Conservatives after their worst electoral defeat in modern history. As the party begins its process of renewal, she is positioning herself as a leader focused on healing divisions within the party, even as some MPs may remain critical of her selections.
Reactions to the Shadow Cabinet
The Liberal Democrats were quick to criticize Badenoch’s appointments, calling the new shadow cabinet a “recipe for yet more Conservative chaos.” Sarah Olney, the party’s Cabinet Office spokeswoman, said the new lineup represented contradictions, questioning how the Conservative Party could hold the Labour government accountable when there were clear divisions within their own ranks.
Wrangling Over Roles
In the days leading up to the appointments, there was significant internal wrangling over some roles. Robert Jenrick was reportedly offered several positions before agreeing to take on the role of shadow justice secretary, after initially rejecting other offers. This was seen as a result of tensions during the leadership race, particularly when Jenrick accused Badenoch of being “disrespectful” to Tory members by not providing enough detailed policy proposals during the contest. Badenoch, for her part, defended her approach, stating she did not want to rush into policy commitments without fully understanding how to implement them.
James Cleverly, who came third in the leadership race, opted not to take a role in Badenoch’s cabinet, and Tom Tugendhat, who came fourth, was also excluded from the shadow cabinet.
Conclusion
With her new shadow cabinet in place, Kemi Badenoch is seeking to guide the Conservative Party through a period of recovery and rebuilding. She faces significant challenges, not least of which is uniting a party that remains deeply divided following its electoral defeat. However, her selection of key figures from different wings of the party and the inclusion of former leadership contenders signals her intent to restore the party to prominence, even as opposition parties critique her approach. The true test will be whether this cabinet can deliver on its promise of unity and effectively hold the Labour government to account in the coming years.