On 22 July 2025, Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition, carried out a reshuffle of her shadow cabinet. It was the first reshuffle since the leadership election concluded in November 2024.
Changes
| Shadow Minister | Position(s) before reshuffle | Position(s) after reshuffle | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Argar MP | Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care | Backbench MP – Resigned for health reasons | ||
| Stuart Andrew MP | Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport | Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care | ||
| Julia Lopez MP | Parliamentary private secretary to the leader of the opposition | Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology | ||
| Kevin Hollinrake MP | Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government | Chairman of the Conservative Party | ||
| James Cleverly MP | Backbench MP | Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government | ||
| Neil O'Brien MP | Shadow Minister of State for Education | Gained additional role of Shadow Minister for Policy Renewal and Development | ||
| John Glen MP | Backbench MP | parliamentary private secretary to the leader of the opposition | ||
| Matt Vickers MP | Shadow Minister of State for Illegal Immigration, Crime, Policing and Fire | Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party and Shadow Minister of State for Illegal Immigration, Crime, Policing and Fire | ||
| Richard Holden MP | Shadow Paymaster General and Senior Opposition Whip | Shadow Secretary of State for Transport | ||
| Nigel Huddleston MP | Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party | Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport | ||
| Alan Mak MP | Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology | Backbench MP | ||
| Dominic Johnson, Baron Johnson of Lainston | Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party | Backbench peer | ||
| Gareth Bacon MP | Shadow Secretary of State for Transport | Shadow Minister of State for Housing & Planning | ||
| Alec Shelbrooke MP | Backbench MP | Shadow Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | ||
| Greg Smith MP | Shadow Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business & Trade and Senior Opposition Whip | Shadow Parliamentary Under-Secretary of state for Energy Security & Net Zero and Shadow Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport | ||
| Gareth Davies MP | Backbench MP | Shadow Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business & Trade | ||
| Saqib Bhatti MP | Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport | Shadow Minister of State for Education | ||
| John Lamont MP | Backbench MP | Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons | ||
Analysis
Kemi Badenoch said her shadow cabinet showed the party's "mission of renewal". Her leadership had been under scrutiny and the reshuffle did little to tamp this, as Badenoch had pledged just six months before not to reshuffle her shadow cabinet before the next general election. In the immediate aftermath of the reshuffle Badenoch downplayed potential leadership coup against her.
The return of James Cleverly to the frontbench was noted as the most important appointment with Cleverly shadowing Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. Robert Jenrick was overlooked for promotion alongside newer MPs from the 2024 intake. The changes were considered a political gamble amid low polling for the party and Badenoch's leadership. Many of the most important roles such as shadow chancellor stayed the same however, one major change was the promotion of Henry Newman to chief of staff to Badenoch. Lee Rowley left the role, which as described as significant due to his closeness to Badenoch.
See also
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