The new Conservatives: who might get the top jobs as new leader Kemi Badenoch begins her project of reviving beaten party_Nhy
Kemi Badenoch has made no secret of the fact that she sees her main task as Conservative Party leader as effectively that of a cleaner.
She wants to clean away at least the final part of the Tories’ 14 years in government that came to a halt on July 4 like a crash test dummy making contact with a wall.
Unfortunately, the scale of the party’s general election defeat means that she cannot just wipe the slate clean.
She has just 120 other Conservative MPs from which to form a shadow team to hold Labour to account.
Additionally many of those with real ministerial experience deciding to return to the backbenches – including former home and foreign secretary James Cleverly.
It means that Ms Badenoch’s frontbench team is likely to be fairly youthful, with so many older MPs quitting or losing their seats.
But nonetheless some of the senior faces may look very familiar to anyone who was across the membership of Rishi Sunak‘s final Government.
And there is also the question of whether any of those who ran against Ms Badenoch will be offered jobs – and accept them.
Both pledged to serve under the other and given his anti-immigrant stance, Mr Jenrick may have his eyes on becoming shadow home secretary, having previously been immigration minister in the Home Office
However Ms Badenoch praised him after being unveiled as the new leader. She said: ‘Rob, we have all been impressed by your energy and your determination. You and I know that we don’t actually disagree on very much, and I have no doubt that you have a key role to play in our party for many years to come.’
She also praised the other candidates, Priti Patel, Mel Stride, Tom Tugendhat and James Cleverly, adding: ‘We have come through this campaign more united and the party needs you now more than ever.’
Both pledged to serve under the other and given his anti-immigrant stance, Mr Jenrick may have his eyes on becoming shadow home secretary, having previously been immigration minister in the Home Office, though it seems unlikely his rival will hand him a brief that he could use as a new leadership springboard.
Rising star Ms Trott, the 39-year-old Sevenoaks MP, branded the new leader ‘the New Mrs Thatcher in an endorsement at the end of August.
Another rising star under 40, the East Surrey MP Ms Coutinho, 39, was energy minister under Mr Sunak. And she was also an early supporter, writing in the Telegraph that Ms Badenoch ‘is the best person to renew our party and country’.
Andrew Griffith, 53, also served under Rishi Sunak and Laura Trott as Exchequer Secretary in the last government. And he has been a vocal and visible cheerleader for Ms Badenoch on TV and radio during the leadership campaign.
When Rishi Sunak defeated Penny Mordaunt in the second leadership election of 2022, he made her Leader of the House, a job that was seen slightly as a punishment for the ambitious former defence secretary..
Speaking to Sky News’ Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge this week, Ms Badenoch said: ‘I think that all of the six candidates should have a job in the shadow cabinet. Whether they want to do what I think they should do is a totally different matter.’
As the leadership race has gone on Ms Badenoch attracted the lions share of support from Tory big beats and rising stars, with many keen to keep rising.
Former ministers Claire Coutinho and Laura Trott were among Ms Badenoch’s earliest backers and will look to be rewarded with top jobs.
Rising star Ms Trott, the 39-year-old Sevenoaks MP, branded the new leader ‘the New Mrs Thatcher in an endorsement at the end of August.
She told The Sun on Sunday: ‘The situation when the next general election is fought could be much like 1979 – overmighty unions, and taxes stifling enterprise.
‘Back then we had a strong, authentic, and resolute leader; someone of conviction and principle willing to tell hard truths, make tough decisions and stand up for what she believed in. We need that again, and I see that in Kemi Badenoch.’
Ms Trott was chief secretary to the Treasury – the Chancellor’s deputy – when Rishi Sunak was PM, and has carried on shadowing the role in opposition.
She is likely to have eyes on the shadow chancellor’s role.
Another rising star under 40, the East Surrey MP Ms Coutinho, 39, was energy minister under Mr Sunak.
And she was also an early supporter, writing in the Telegraph that Ms Badenoch ‘is the best person to renew our party and country’.
Time and again, Kemi has shown that she will defend causes which are proven to be right,’ she said, praising the new leader for speaking out against Net Zero and ‘extreme gender activists’.
She may also be in the frame for the shadow chancellorship alongside another former Treasury minister.
Andrew Griffith, 53, also served under Rishi Sunak and Laura Trott as Exchequer Secretary in the last government. And he has been a vocal and visible cheerleader for Ms Badenoch on TV and radio during the leadership campaign.
Mr Jenrick may have his eyes on becoming shadow home secretary, having previously been immigration minister in the Home Office, though it seems unlikely his rival will hand him a brief that he could use as a new leadership springboard.
