Kemi Badenoch has sacked Sir Mel Stride as her shadow chancellor as she beefs up her economic team amid speculation about an early election. The Telegraph has more.
Andrew Griffith, formerly the shadow business secretary, will take over from him, with Claire Coutinho, the former shadow energy secretary, acting as his deputy.
It comes after the Telegraph revealed that Tom Tugendhat would replace Dame Priti Patel as shadow foreign secretary.
Coutinho will also be Shadow Business Secretary under the shake-up. She will soon be going on maternity leave, during which time Julia Lopez, the Shadow Technology Secretary, will cover for her.
The new “Conservative Economic Unit” will also comprise Richard Fuller, a former party chairman.
The Shadow Cabinet reshuffle will be seen as an attempt by a newly emboldened Badenoch to stamp her authority on her party.
Badenoch has consistently polled as one of the most popular party leaders, and has overseen an improvement in the Tories’ overall ratings.
The Tory leader has removed from her front bench senior figures linked to failures of the previous Conservative government.
Dame Priti oversaw surging levels of immigration when she was home secretary under Boris Johnson, and Sir Mel was work and pensions secretary when the welfare budget ballooned.
A senior Tory source said: “Kemi is changing the way the Conservative Party approaches economic policy and creating a new economic leadership team for the next phase, focused on growth, higher living standards and fiscal credibility.
“The team will be led by Andrew Griffith, a no-nonsense, pro-growth Shadow Chancellor with real business experience. Claire Coutinho will be Andrew’s deputy across the economic brief, as well as shadow business secretary, and will make sure growth translates into higher living standards.
“Richard Fuller will be focused on fiscal discipline and the savings work which underpins the economic programme. The new Conservative Economic Unit will be the driving force of the Shadow Cabinet’s business and economic policies.” …
Paying tribute to Sir Mel, Badenoch said he had helped “steady the ship” following the disastrous general election defeat in 2024.
“Like Priti, Mel came into the job at an exceptionally difficult point for the Conservative Party,” she said.
“He brought experience, seriousness and stability when those things were badly needed. He helped us steady the ship, rebuild economic credibility and become an effective opposition, and I am genuinely grateful for his contribution.
“The Conservative Party would not have got where we are without his work and his very effective skewering of Rachel Reeves and her disastrous time as chancellor.
“Mel has been very supportive of the new economic team and the party, and been exceptionally loyal, and I will always be grateful to him for the work he has done.”
Worth reading in full.
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Why is a Nigerian Princess in charge of the U.K.’s Conservatives? A British political party.
I’m absolutely delighted. What a marvellous display of promoting Conservative values and experience … which will definitely repair the wreckage of the past 30 years.
Badenough, Griffiths (at least he knows a lot about illegally employing criminal migrants) and (half-French, Remainer, dripping wet) Tugendhat.
I must rejoin the CON Party.
(Only kidding).
I’m feeling quite ignorant here. Can someone please tell me what a Shadow Chancellor does?
On 31 August 2023, Coutinho was appointed as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
on 17 November 2020, Griffith was appointed by Boris Johnson to be the UK’s Net Zero Business Champion.. . By 2008, he rose to become Sky’s chief financial officer
I don’t think so mate
Sky – regime media, woke, covid fanatics
Well, at least that cnut Stride has gone. He was responsible for Ir30 and the destruction of self employed trades. Probably off to a job with HMRC.
“Kemi is changing the way the Conservative Party approaches economic policy and creating a new economic leadership team for the next phase, focused on growth, higher living standards and fiscal credibility.”
But… isn’t that what Tories were supposed to be about? Didn’t Mrs Thatcher do that?
Does she mean that they have been for recession, lowering living standards, fiscally irresponsible? Aka Socialism.
Well yes that does fit the 14 years of the last Tory Government.
So are the deadbeats she is booting out of her Shadow Cabinet responsible for that? And are we to believe her new appointees have trodden the road to Damascus, been blinded by a bright light, and been converted to the path of true Conservatism?
In other News: a flock of pigs were spotted flying over Westminster earlier today.
Am I bothered?
“Mel has been so effective for the Tories that we’re replacing him.”
Miss Kemi should finally replace herself with the redoubtable Katie Lam.