It seems that the shadow cabinet reshuffle is less of an event and more of a process. Traditionally, these events in both government and opposition tend to take place over one day. But Kemi Badenoch, mindful of the tensions that sackings can cause, is allowing those departing to do so one at a time and in their own way. James Cleverly quit the housing brief on Saturday as he bids to become the party’s London mayoral candidate. Now it is the turn of Priti Patel who is standing down as Shadow Foreign Secretary. She has released a statement overnight, explaining that she will be taking up a newly-created international role, liaising with the Tories’ sister parties around the world. This novel approach to reshuffles is how Badenoch intends to minimise any fall out from her changes.
This novel approach to reshuffles is how Badenoch intends to minimise any fall out from her changes
The reason for Patel’s departure is primarily her prominent role in the last Conservative government. From 2019 until 2022, she was Home Secretary, charged with overhauling the post-Brexit migration system. As such, she became the most prominent public face of the so-called ‘Boriswave’ of mass migration which occurred in the aftermath of the pandemic. Senior Tories, like Neil O’Brien, now believe that this was the single most damaging policy of the last government. As such, it was always slightly incongruous to have Patel shadowing one of the Great Offices of State, particularly when she was unwilling in interviews to apologise for her record in government. Some Tory MPs concluded that if the party wanted to show that it has changed, Patel had to go. Her new post is an elegant solution, building on the work that she has enjoyed doing in opposition.
Taking Patel’s place will be Tom Tugendhat, one of the rivals who ran for leader in 2024. He has been on the backbenches since then but has made it known that he is a fan of Badenoch’s leadership.
‘If I’d known she was this good, I wouldn’t have stood against her’, is the line he has told friends. A longtime China critic and military veteran, Tugendhat will amplify the party’s message on defence, alongside James Cartlidge and Alex Burghart. It is an appointment that will please many of Tugendhat’s old backers in the One Nation group, some of whom feel that their wing has been neglected by Badenoch in recent months.
Stuart Andrew, the Shadow Health Secretary, is also out, writing on X that ‘after nearly 10 years serving on the frontbench, I will now be returning to the backbenches.’
The leader’s team are keen to show that they are ready for an election, writing to the cabinet secretary to demand access talks. Tugendhat’s return is an attempt to show that the Tories are putting their best team forward, as conference season begins.
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