Kemi Badenoch makes first senior appointment as Conservative leader | Politics News


Kemi Badenoch has made her first senior appointment as the new Conservative Party leader.

It is understood that Dame Rebecca Harris, MP for the Essex constituency of Castle Point, will be the party’s chief whip – replacing Stuart Andrew.

Mr Andrew wrote on the X social media platform: “It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as the Conservative Party Chief Whip.

“She [Harris] is a great friend and a brilliant whip. I wish her all the best in the role.”

Dame Rebecca’s role as chief whip will require her to maintain party discipline and to try and ensure MPs vote as Ms Badenoch would like them to.

Politics latest: Follow live updates

The 56-year-old has been the MP for Castle Point since May 2010 and supported the Leave campaign during the 2016 Brexit referendum.

She was also Comptroller of the Household between 2022 and 2024 – an ancient and largely ceremonial role handed to a government whip.

Her appointment comes a day after Ms Badenoch beat Robert Jenrick to replace Rishi Sunak as the party’s leader.

Read more:
Who is Kemi Badenoch’s husband?
Combative past of new Tory leader

Tory members react to Kemi Badenoch’s leadership win

Mr Jenrick congratulate Ms Badenoch on her win. Pic: PA
Image:
Kemi Badenoch, right, with Robert Jenrick after winning the Tory leadership race. Pic: PA

The 44-year-old North West Essex MP is expected to appoint the members of her shadow cabinet before Tuesday.

She did not immediately announce who would make up her top team, but suggested all of those who ran against her in the leadership race should be involved.

However, former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly revealed the day before the result that he would not be joining Ms Badenoch’s top team.

He will return to the backbenches along with former prime minister Mr Sunak, former deputy prime minister Sir Oliver Dowden, ex-chancellor Jeremy Hunt and former Brexit, health, and environment secretary, Steve Barclay.

In an interview after becoming party leader, Ms Badenoch told the BBC the partygate scandal was “overblown” and the government should not have fined people for “everyday activities” during lockdown.



View Original Source Here

You May Also Like

Cameron ‘did absolutely nothing wrong’ over links with financial services firm – minister

It is time to “move on” from a row over David Cameron’s…

Business Secretary wants staff in ‘at least’ two or three days a week

A minister has told Sky News he would like staff in his…

It will spark outrage – but picking a fight over Brexit moves an embattled PM onto safer territory

For a leader on the backfoot, offence can be the best form…

Sunak can’t rock the boat – his political legitimacy hangs by a thread | Beth Rigby

On the face of it, Rishi Sunak’s first Prime Minister’s Questions was…