Kemi Badenoch’s New Appointments in the Conservative Party

Newly elected Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has begun to assemble her top team ahead of the inaugural shadow cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Key Appointments

Badenoch has appointed Laura Trott, former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, as shadow education secretary. Additionally, Neil O’Brien will serve as the shadow education minister. Both have already made appearances in their new roles during Education Questions in the House of Commons.

In a strategic move, Nigel Huddleston and Lord Dominic Johnson have been appointed as joint chairmen of the Conservative party. These appointments follow the selection of Dame Rebecca Harris, MP for Castle Point, as the Tory chief whip.

Badenoch emerged victorious in the Conservative Party’s leadership election held on Saturday, defeating Robert Jenrick. She expressed optimism regarding the party’s future, stating that Tories could potentially return to government within five years.

Focus on Local Elections

Badenoch emphasized that her administration’s immediate priority is to engage with local Tories and regain council seats in next May’s local elections. Trott, who has represented Sevenoaks since 2019, previously served under Jeremy Hunt during his time as Chancellor. O’Brien has been an MP since 2017 and recently stepped down from his role as a health minister.

Despite their loyalty to Badenoch, Trott and Huddleston supported her in the leadership contest while O’Brien backed Jenrick.

Huddleston represents Droitwich and Evesham and has worked closely with Badenoch when she was business secretary. Meanwhile, Lord Johnson also collaborated with her as a trade minister and has a history of significant financial contributions to the party—over £275,000 in the past decade.

Future Outlook

A formal announcement detailing the complete shadow cabinet is anticipated before Tuesday’s meeting. Badenoch indicated that she plans to include former rival Jenrick in her team, acknowledging his “key role” within the party moving forward.

She expressed her desire for a shadow cabinet that is meritocratic, showcasing a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds among its members. This vision reflects her commitment to inclusivity within the party’s structure.

As Badenoch steps into this leadership role, she faces significant challenges given that the current Labour government consists of 120 ministers, while her party only holds 121 MPs. Notably, several high-profile figures have opted to remain on the backbenches rather than participate in her new shadow cabinet.

Kemi Badenoch also holds a historic position as the first black woman to lead a major political party in the UK, marking a significant moment in British political history.