Mel Stride quits as Shadow Chancellor as Kemi Badenoch names replacement in Cabinet mega reshuffle
Mel Stride has quit as the Shadow Chancellor as Kemi Badenoch has begun her Shadow Cabinet reshuffle
The Conservative Party prepares for a potential early General Election.
Writing on X, Mr Stride said: "It has been an honour to have served as Shadow Chancellor for almost two years, alongside an exceptionally strong team and a great leader in Kemi.
"I am especially proud of the work we have done to rebuild the Conservatives' economic credibility - an issue on which we now consistently lead in the polls - and to have developed the start of a radical and deliverable plan to turn our economy around.
He added: "The Conservative Party must continue to champion an approach which is both radical and deliverable.
"It is essential that the next Conservative government does things very differently, backing business like never before and getting government out of the way.
"The Conservatives have a good story to tell on this now and one that I know will continue to grow stronger and stronger under Kemi’s leadership."
He marks the fourth Conservative shadow cabinet member to stand down from their role in recent days.
Dame Priti Patel and Sir James Cleverly left as the first big changes to Kemi Badenoch's team, before Stuart Andrew announced he was departing.
Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho is set to go on maternity leave, and shadow attorney general Helen Grant is also set to leave the front bench as she will be standing down as an MP at the next general election.
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Who could come into the spotlight?
As reports emerged of the reshuffle, several Tory backbenchers have been tipped to take up a new position in the Shadow Cabinet.
Julia Lopez, who has stuck with Mrs Badenoch since the start of her leadership campaign, has had her department abolished by Andy Burnham.
As a result, the Shadow Science and Technology Secretary is believed to take over a new brief.
Rumours have also swirled in favour of Mrs Badenoch promoting Katie Lam, who has historically been tipped to jump over to Reform UK.
Once one of Boris Johnson's closest advisers, Ms Lam, now a Shadow Home Office minister, has ruled out joining Nigel Farage's party.
One supporter of Ms Lam told GB News she was an "up-and-coming star" - and would assist Mrs Badenoch with the "promise of renewal" the Tory leader has spent the past two years setting out.
An insider suggested Harriet Cross, a Scottish MP, could be in for a promotion following the Tories' historic win in Aberdeen South earlier this year.
Sir Mel Stride, the Shadow Chancellor, has been identified as one of those at risk of being demoted.
This week's anticipated swap-around has been billed as the largest reshaping of Mrs Badenoch since she took control of the Tories.
The party's 2026 conference will take place in Birmingham from October 4 to October 7.
Why has Kemi Badenoch reshuffled her Shadow Cabinet?
Kemi Badenoch's major shadow cabinet reshuffle has been described as a refresh of the party's image, with newer MPs ahead of parliament's return this week.
Insiders claim that the Tory leader wants to phase out MPs, ministers, and officials from the Johnson era.
Ms Badenoch is ramping up efforts to boost Tory popularity in the polls ahead of a potential General Election.
MPs are due to return to Parliament for a brief stint in Westminster on September 1.
She has also been hit with the high-profile exits of Sir James Cleverly, Claire Coutinho and Helen Grant.
Sir James was said to have clarified his intention to run for Mayor of London before the Conservative Party's annual conference in October.
Rising star within the Party, Ms Coutinho will depart the shadow cabinet before she takes maternity leave later on in the year.
Ms Grant will step down as the MP for Maidstone and Malling at the next general election, after her successful treatment for breast cancer.
'I wish Kemi Badenoch, my successor and the whole Shadow Cabinet every success for the future', says Stuart Andrew
Stuart Andrew has wished Kemi Badenoch and the new Shadow Cabinet success in a statement announcing his exit from the Tory top team.
He stepped down as Shadow Health Secretary and will return to the back benches for the first time in nearly a decade.
Writing on social media, the MP for Daventry said: "After nearly 10 years serving on the frontbench, I will now be returning to the backbenches.
"It has been a privilege to serve in numerous roles in Government and in Opposition, and I am grateful for all the support I have received personally from colleagues, my Shadow Health team and my constituency team.
"I would also like to thank all those working across the NHS and social care for their help and cooperation in my most recent role.
"I am proud of the role I played in the months immediately after the General Election in ensuring we hit the ground running in Opposition, and I wish Kemi, my successor and the whole Shadow Cabinet every success for the future.
"I now look forward to continuing to work hard on behalf of all my constituents in the wonderful Daventry constituency."
Priti Patel hails 'greater freedom' in statement after Shadow Cabinet exit
Dame Priti Patel has released a statement following her departure from Kemi Badenoch's Shadow Cabinet.
The message read: "I'm pleased to continue supporting Kemi and the Conservative Party in a new role, strengthening our relationships with fellow conservatives and centre-right parties around the world.
"At a time of profound global uncertainty, when our values and freedoms are under threat, conservatives must work more closely together.
"We should be learning from each other, sharing ideas and making the case for the values we believe in: freedom, free enterprise, lower taxes and individual responsibility.
"It has been an honour to lead the Party's foreign affairs team in Parliament over the last two years.
"We have challenged Labour when it has failed to defend British interests, opposed its £35billion Chagos surrender, and demanded stronger action to protect Britain from the threats posed by China, Iran and Russia.
"From the appointment of Mandelson as US Ambassador and kowtowing to China, to abandoning our friends and allies in the Middle East, Labour has repeatedly failed to put British interests first. I wish my successor well in continuing to hold the Government to account.
"Returning to the backbenches also gives me greater freedom to stand up for Witham and Essex and challenge Labour Ministers directly in Parliament over the decisions hurting my constituents.
"With Labour axing key transport schemes, cancelling plans for a new school, threatening to destroy our countryside, councils and communities and cutting policing, I will be a vocal champion for my constituents in the House of Commons defending their interests and demanding action."
Priti Patel quits Kemi Badenoch's top team as Tom Tugendhat set to be named shadow foreign secretary
Priti Patel has quit Kemi Badenoch's shadow cabinet as Tom Tugendhat is set to be named as her successor.
Ms Badenoch has begun a major reshuffle of her top team as the Conservative Party prepares for a potential early General Election.
Dame Priti will take on a new senior party role leading the Conservatives’ international engagement and relations.
Mr Tugendhat, a former soldier and security minister, has been a backbencher in the Tories since he challenged for party leadership in 2024.
One of his main jobs will be amplifying the Conservatives’ message on defence, which sources claim is one of the Tories' "central organising principles".
Tonbridge MP confirmed his return to the front bench over the bank holiday weekend while meeting officials in Taiwan about the threat posed by China.
RECAP: James Cleverly quits Kemi Badenoch's shadow cabinet to run against Sadiq Khan for London mayor
Sir James Cleverly resigned from the Shadow Cabinet over the Bank Holiday weekend as the former Home Secretary confirmed he intends to run to be the next Mayor of London.
The MP for Braintree resigned from Kemi Badenoch's front bench with immediate effect on Saturday.
He made the decision to make his position on his future clear before the Conservative Party's annual conference in October.
Sir James, 56, was born and raised in Lewisham, south London and served as a member of the London Assembly for Bexley and Bromley until 2016.
He has represented the Braintree constituency since 2015, serving as Foreign Secretary under Liz Truss and Home Secretary under Rishi Sunak.
Taking aim at Sadiq Khan, Sir James said: "It’s the visible things that are damaging London’s reputation.
"The impression that the mayor has given up on policing the streets. The constant ratcheting up of tax and regulation. It’s not good enough to say it’s all fake news. The way you deal with bad news, even if it’s unfair, is to put better news out there. Khan has spectacularly failed to do that."
Sir James also heaped praise on Mrs Badenoch as he said the Tory leader is "getting great cut through" to the public.
He said: "Our route to getting Kemi in No10 has got to be through success in London. It’s a business city, entrepreneurialism, arts, culture.
"I don’t buy the lazy idea that London is a Labour city. It represents the philosophical heart of the Conservative Party.
"Frankly, Kemi is doing really well now. She’s getting great cut through. It took longer than any of us would have liked, but she’s getting it."
Following the announcement, he told GB News: "Voters want people who actually get a grip of the situation and make a positive difference."
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