Kemi Badenoch reshuffle brings Sir James Cleverly back to the front bench

Emma Trehane

July 22, 2025
3 min read

Kemi Badenoch reshuffle brings Sir James Cleverly back to the front bench

A significant Kemi Badenoch reshuffle is expected to be confirmed on Tuesday as the Conservative leader moves to refresh her shadow cabinet. The decision comes just eight months into her leadership and at a time when the party is still working to recover from a difficult spell in the polls. Badenoch’s team confirmed that changes will be announced later in the day, with former foreign and home secretary Sir James Cleverly set to return to a senior role on the front bench.

For all across the country watching opposition politics closely, the Kemi Badenoch reshuffle reflects an effort to sharpen the Conservative Party’s message against the Labour government. A party source said the move is part of a wider policy renewal plan and is also intended to show a united front under Badenoch’s leadership. It is understood that some reshuffle decisions were prompted by shadow ministers stepping down for personal reasons, but what began as minor adjustments has developed into a broader shake‑up.

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Sir James Cleverly has been on the backbenches since losing to Badenoch in the 2024 leadership race. His expected return follows a knighthood awarded in April 2025 in former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours list. While his new role has not been confirmed, his experience suggests he will take on a high‑profile position. Other key figures expected to remain in the line‑up include shadow chancellor Mel Stride, shadow home secretary Chris Philp and Dame Priti Patel as shadow foreign secretary.

The Kemi Badenoch reshuffle comes at a time when the Conservatives are still struggling to climb in opinion polls. Since Badenoch took over, the party has frequently sat in third or fourth place behind Labour, Reform UK and, on some occasions, the Liberal Democrats. After a disappointing local election performance in May, losing control of 16 councils, Badenoch admitted in an interview that rebuilding the party would take time, saying she was determined to “get better” as leader.

For further background on how shadow cabinets operate in the UK, the official UK Parliament website provides useful detail.

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About Author

Emma Trehane

Emma Trehane is what happens when academia meets adrenaline. She’s run surf hostels, taught Sports and the Humanities, earned a PhD in English Literature, lectured on Romantic poetry, and somehow still found time to found EyeOnLondon - a multimedia platform telling the stories others miss. Her career spans broadsheet editing, media consultancy in the City, and producing reels on everything from Lucian Freud to the Silk Roads. Emma’s equally at home in the British Library or behind the camera, usually balancing a tripod, a script, and a strong opinion. A Freeman of the City of London and a member of the Chelsea Arts Club, she now channels her experience into journalism, storytelling, and the occasional martial arts session to clear her head.