Chris Philp who requested on TV if Congo and Rwanda are totally different nations will get high Tory job

Kemi Badenoch has given a top job to a Tory MP who appeared not to know the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda were different countries.

The new Tory leader has appointed Chris Philp, a former policing minister, to the role of Shadow Home Secretary. The brief will see him shadowing one of the great offices of state which oversees migration, security, crime and policing.

But Mr Philp, who served in Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss and Boris Johnson’s government, became an object of ridicule in April this year after appearing not to know that the two African countries were separate countries during an episode of BBC Question Time.

The then-Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire was asked by an audience member about the Tories’ Rwanda plan. He raised concerns family members in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo would be sent to Rwanda if they fled Congo to the UK due to the genocide – with Rwanda.

Mr Philp hesitated before responding: “Well, Congo is a different country to Rwanda, isn’t it? It’s a different country?” Audience members were seen laughing, gasping and one woman had her hand over her mouth, visibly shocked by the politician’s blunder.

Fiona Bruce was heard saying: “Yes” to ease Mr Philp on the right track but, by this stage, the man with the question was seen in giggles and gasps were heard from across the audience. Cabinet minister Wes Streeting, who was then the Shadow Health Secretary, was seen rolling his eyes at the hapless Mr Philp.

At the time Twitter, now X, went into meltdown to mock Mr Philp. One post read: “I have no words.” Another said: “I don’t believe this – How does Chris Philp not know that Congo and Rwanda are two different countries, that’s embarrassing.”

Mr Philp later claimed he was asking the audience member a “rhetorical question”. When Labour was elected to Government, it scrapped the Tory plan to deport migrants to Rwanda.

Speaking after her Shadow Cabinet was announced on Tuesday morning, Ms Badenoch said: “I am delighted to have appointed my Shadow Cabinet, which draws on the talents of people from across the Conservative Party, based on meritocracy and with a breadth of experience and perspective, just as I promised during the campaign.

“Our party’s problems will only be solved with a team effort, and I am confident my Shadow Cabinet ministers will deliver effective opposition as we seek to win back the trust of the public. We will now get to work holding Labour to account and rebuilding our party based on Conservative principles and values. The process of renewing our great party has now begun.”

Keir Starmer congratulated Ms Badenoch following her election as Conservative Party leader. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “I can confirm that he spoke to the Leader of the Opposition to congratulate her over the weekend.”