In a notable shift within the Conservative Party, Robert Jenrick has taken on the key role of shadow justice secretary in Kemi Badenoch’s leadership team. This unexpected move has left many wondering about its implications.
The new Tory leader is also expected to name Dame Priti Patel as her shadow foreign secretary and Mel Stride as her shadow chancellor.
Note that Dame Priti, Stride and Jenrick were all candidates against Badenoch in the Tory leadership race, with Badenoch defeating Jenrick in the final round.
From her proposed appointments of elevating former rivals and figures from different wings of the party, Badenoch is hoping to unite the Conservatives after a crushing election defeat.
But, there was drama over which (if any) job Jenrick would take and during negotiations one Conservative source that emphasised that it was not close to the leadership, told the BBC:
“Kemi just doesn’t like Rob. She thinks his whole schtick about her and whether she has any policies has done her lasting damage with the right and with Reform voters. This is only likely to further unravel.”
The two politicians clashed during the final weeks of the leadership campaign, with Jenrick accusing Badenoch of being “disrespectful” to Tory members by not setting out policies.
Badenoch on her part, said she would not have used that word and, defended her approach, saying she would not make a promise “unless I know how I am going to deliver it”.
But, in the aftermath of the contest, the two candidates exchanged warm words.
In her victory speech on Saturday, Badenoch praised Jenrick’s “energy and determination”, saying: “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.”
Jenrick in turn, felicitated with his opponent on her win and appealed Conservatives to rally behind the new leader.
The former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Laura Trott was appointed the shadow education secretary, while Neil O’Brien was appointed the shadow education minister respectively.
The pair have already made an appearance in their new roles in the House of Commons at Education Questions.
As for Nigel Huddleston and Lord Dominic Johnson, they were appointed as joint chairmen of the Conservative party, according to the BBC.
These appointments had followed the appointment of Castle Point MP Dame Rebecca Harris as Tory chief whip on Sunday evening.
While Trott and Huddleston haf supported and campaigned for Badenoch in the leadership, O’Brien had rallied against her rival Jenrick.
The present Labour government has 120 ministers, meaning that the Tories may struggle to shadow all posts as they only have 121 MPs.
