Kemi Badenoch plots reshuffle ‘to cease rising star Katie Lam defecting to Reform’ as Priti Patel and Chris Philp each reportedly beneath menace
Kemi Badenoch is poised to make a ‘root and branch’ revamp of the Tories‘ top team in her first major reshuffle as party leader.
In a sign of her growing confidence, Ms Badenoch is understood to be planning to remove ‘dead wood’ opposition Cabinet ministers holding up the party’s renewal.
Frontbenchers said to be most at risk include Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride, Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp.
Young MPs will be promoted to energise the battered Tory brand based on ‘social media clicks’. But there are also claims that Ms Badenoch is reshuffling now to stop at least one rising star from defecting to Nigel Farage‘s Reform.
Party insiders said that she will try to ‘buy off’ Weald of Kent MP Katie Lam with a promotion, as she is now on ‘defection watch’.
Sir Mel, who Tory officials say lacks energy, is now frozen out of key decisions, party insiders claim. One source described him as ‘far too slow’ – a claim dismissed as nonsense by his allies. Shadow energy spokesman Claire Coutinho is seen as more dynamic and is hot favourite to replace him in the key role.
Ms Patel also ‘has to be moved’ because she reminds voters of record levels of migration she oversaw as Home Secretary, according to those familiar with the plot – although the party wants to reward her with another post for her loyalty.
Mr Philp was not in the original reshuffle plans, as he was seen as having done a good job of ‘wrapping himself in the Union flag’. But there is mounting concern among Tory strategists and whips, who believe he is no longer fully focused on the job at hand.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch is said to be plotting a shadow cabinet reshuffle – although a party spokesperson has denied the rumours
Rising Conservative Party star Katie Lam is understood to be annoyed that colleagues who were elected at the same time have been promoted ahead of her
The newest intake will be promoted based on their ability to cut through to young audiences online, which Tory HQ is now monitoring. Ms Badenoch has ranked MPs based on how well they are performing on X, Facebook and LinkedIn. This list has only recently been finalised, leading insiders to speculate the reshuffle is imminent.
Highly rated fresh-faced MPs who can also expect a promotion include Blake Stephenson and Jack Rankin.
Ms Lam is one of the standout performers, tipped by some MPs as the ‘next David Cameron’ and a future leader of the party. But Tory high command has become nervous of her imminent defection – something her team says is ‘categorically untrue’.
She was very close with Robert Jenrick prior to his departure to Reform and was one of the first to find out about plans for his dramatic exit.
Ms Lam is said to be annoyed others elected at the same time have been promoted ahead of her. Ms Badenoch’s inner circle is aware that losing her would be a massive blow.
Other changes are said to include former Defence Minister Mark Francois in a new role of Shadow Northern Ireland spokesman and veterans’ minister, because he has ‘done a lot of the batting on [behalf of] veterans’.
A Conservative Party spokesman last night denied the claims.
