Kemi Badenoch has given a top job to her former rival for the party leadership Sir James Cleverly, as she reshuffles her shadow cabinet ahead of the summer recess.
The former foreign secretary becomes shadow secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, opposite Labour’s Angela Rayner.
But shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, who also ran for the party leadership last year, is expected to miss out on a move to the highly coveted shadow chancellor role occupied by Sir Mel Stride.
Mr Jenrick has strayed well beyond his justice brief, building a prominent social media presence with campaigns on issues from tackling fare dodgers on the London Underground to the effect of immigration on housing.
Questions have also emerged whether other former ministers including Suella Braverman will be called upon for senior leadership positions.
The reshuffle comes just eight months after Ms Badenoch was elected as leader of the opposition, with the Tories underperforming against the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party.
Shadow health and social care secretary Edward Argar has stepped back to the Conservative front bench. It’s understood his decision to leave the front bench follows a health scare.
Trump visit will not impact policing in Scotland, says John Swinney
First minister John Swinney has shut down claims that the cost of Donald Trump’s visit later this week will put policing in Scotland “in a detrimental position.”
The US president is due to arrive in Scotland later this week and visit both his golf courses in the country, but concerns have been raised about the policing operation required after substantial protests sprang up last time he visited – when he was no longer in office.
He is expected to meet both Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Swinney during his time in Scotland.
Speaking to the PA news agency during a visit to Aberdeen, First Minister John Swinney said talks were still ongoing about how costs would be handled for the visit, but said that Scotland’s police force would not suffer as a result.
“Police Scotland will obviously have to deal with the circumstances that they face in relation to the policing operation,” he said.
“They are seeking mutual aid because the scale of the operation that is required requires additional resources that couldn’t ordinarily be justified in Scotland’s circumstances.
“But obviously, we’ll work with Police Scotland, with the Scottish Police Authority and with the United Kingdom Government on the costs.”
All of Police Scotland’s liaison officers are expected to be required to handle protests during the visit and mutual aid has been requested from other forces to help.
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Angela Rayner says increased time society spending online is having ‘profound impact on society’
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has told the Cabinet that economic insecurity, the rapid pace of deindustrialisation, immigration and the amount of time people are spending online are having a “profound impact on society”, Downing Street has said.
“She said it was incumbent on the Government to acknowledge the real concerns people have and to deliver improvements to people’s lives and their communities.
“She said 17 of the 18 places that saw the worst of the disorder last summer ranked at the top of the most deprived, and while Britain was a successful multi-ethnic, multi-faith country, the Government had to show it had a plan to address people’s concerns (and) provide opportunities for everyone to flourish,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.
There are a range of factors contributing to people feeling “left behind”, he added.
“I think she sees a link between concerns that people have about where the Government is acting on their behalf and acting in their interests, and a range of factors.
“High levels of immigration over the last 10 years, including illegal immigration, but also, importantly, the cost of living, economic security, the rapid pace of technological change and deindustrialisation and changes in the economy, these are all factors that have had an impact on our social fabric and social cohesion.”
Cleverly warns against ‘populism’ but attacks climate ‘luddites’
Since moving to the back benches, Sir James Cleverly has used his influential position as a former minister to warn against pursuing populist agendas akin to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
Last week, the senior Tory hit out at calls to “smash the system” and “start again from scratch”, branding them “complete nonsense”.
He also appeared to take a different position on net zero from party leader Mrs Badenoch in a recent speech, urging the Conservatives to reject climate change “luddites” on the right who believe “the way things are now is just fine”.
Wes Streeting calls for recognition of Palestinian state
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has called for recognition of the state of Palestine “while there’s still a state of Palestine left to recognise” as he branded Israel’s attacks on healthcare workers as going “well beyond legitimate self-defence”.
Mr Streeting was responding to a question from Labour backbencher Jas Athwal (Ilford South), who raised reports that Israel has attacked World Health Organisation facilities in Deir al-Balah, compromising operations.
The Health Secretary told MPs: “I deplore Israel’s attacks on healthcare workers, as well as other innocent civilians trying to access healthcare or vital aid.
“These actions go well beyond legitimate self-defence and undermine the prospects for peace.
“I will be in touch with the World Health Organisation to offer my support following the intolerable incident yesterday and I sincerely hope that the international community can come together, as the Foreign Secretary has been driving towards, to make sure that we see an end to this war, but also the recognition of the state of Palestine while there’s still a state of Palestine left to recognise.”
Reeves reveals diagnosis ‘for the ills of the UK economy’ – ‘investment is the answer’
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been asked to set out her “diagnosis for the ills of the UK economy” and what the problems are “that continue to plague the UK at the moment” as she appears before the Economic Affairs Committee.
Reeves said that the UK suffered from low productivity but “investment is the answer”.
She said: “I think we’ve got the lowest private investment and lowest total investment as a share of GDP of any country in the G7.
“The result of that is our productivity performance has not kept pace with our competitors and similar countries around the world.
“That’s why the fiscal rules that I’ve set out do treat investment spending differently.”
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Tory reshuffle: Everything we know so far
Sir James Cleverly has returned to the Conservative front bench as shadow secretary of state for housing, communities and local government.
Kevin Hollinrake will become the party chairman, replacing Nigel Huddleston, who will be shadow culture secretary.
Stuart Andrew will replace Edward Argar, who stepped down from the role of shadow health secretary for health reasons.
It remains unknown whether Robert Jenrick will get his coveted role as shadow chancellor, a role currently filled by Sir Mel Stride.
