The Badenoch reshuffle in full:
Demotions:
LOTO personnel changes:
CCHQ is saying tonight this is not the end to a shake-up across the Tory political operation. As Guido was first to reveal earlier this month, the appointments follow Lord Mark McInnes coming in as CEO of the Conservative Party. You’re either in front of Guido, or you are behind…
Insiders view the reshuffle as light-touch – most moves were predicted and trailed. The lack of promotions for the 2024 intake and standout Commons performers like Katie Lam and Nick Timothy has been noted widely by MPs and commentators alike. Key leadership candidate Rob Jenrick remains in the same post, there is no change of Shadow Chancellor, and multiple figures who were widely touted as certain exits from the Shadow Cabinet also remain in place…
As for the LOTO team, a shakeup was desperately needed. For what it’s worth, Maude is seen as a key Gove ally, and the appointment of his former SpAd Henry Newman relieves Lee Rowley of the high stakes post of Chief of Staff. Allies say these are important shifts in the leader’s office and will bring in experience, particularly in policy, which might quicken in pace under the new team…
As of tonight the Conservatives remain roughly a net of ten points behind Reform in most polls. The Tories have much bigger problems than who’s in the top team…
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”