Key facts
- Kemi Badenoch has reshuffled her top team in the Conservative party.
- Andrew Griffith is the new shadow chancellor.
- Claire Coutinho has been appointed shadow business secretary.
- Tom Tugendhat will serve as shadow foreign secretary.
- Katie Lam is the new shadow housing and communities minister.
Kemi Badenoch has initiated a significant reshuffle of her top team as the Conservative party prepares for its return to parliament, aiming to counter Labour and Reform UK. Andrew Griffith, previously a key figure in business and finance, has been appointed as the new shadow chancellor, replacing Mel Stride. Griffith, who has held executive roles at Sky and Just Eat, brings a background in finance to the role. He was an early supporter of Badenoch's leadership bid and previously served as a treasury minister under Liz Truss, where he was involved in the controversial mini-budget.
Claire Coutinho, described as a rising star within the party, has been moved to shadow business secretary. A former investment banker, she previously served as a cabinet minister under Rishi Sunak and has been vocal on issues related to energy costs and the "hidden cost of net zero." Julia Lopez will cover Coutinho's brief during her maternity leave.
Tom Tugendhat, a former British army officer and security minister, has been appointed shadow foreign secretary, replacing Priti Patel. His appointment as a moderate figure surprised some, given Badenoch's stated aim to remove "woke" MPs. Tugendhat, a Remainer, has expressed views that diverge from Badenoch on certain issues, such as the European convention on human rights.
Katie Lam, a recent addition to parliament and a figure on the right of the party, has been given the role of shadow housing and communities minister. Lam previously worked as a special adviser to Boris Johnson and has made controversial comments on immigration.
Other key appointments include Chris Philp remaining as shadow home secretary and James Cartlidge continuing as shadow defence secretary. Andrew Bowie takes up the energy brief, while Damian Hinds assumes the role of shadow health secretary following Stuart Andrew's departure from the frontbench.