Kemi Badenoch secretly plotting cabinet reshuffle

Kemi Badenoch is reportedly planning a major shake-up of the Conservative Party’s shadow cabinet in what insiders describe as a bold move to rebuild the party and stop rising figures from defecting to Reform UK

Report from Daily Mail reveal that Badenoch, who leads the opposition against the government, is considering a “root and branch” overhaul of her top team to remove what some insiders called “dead wood” and inject new energy into the party.

Among those said to be under pressure are Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride, Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp.

The report claims Stride has been sidelined from key decisions and criticised for lacking energy, allegations his allies have dismissed as untrue.

Patel, according to sources familiar with the internal discussions, may also be moved from her role because her time as Home Secretary is closely associated with the UK’s high migration figures, though the party is said to be considering another position for her.

Philp was not initially expected to be affected by the reshuffle, but some strategists reportedly believe he is no longer fully focused on the role.

The reported shake-up is also linked to concerns that rising Tory figure Katie Lam could defect to Reform UK led by Nigel Farage.

It further revealed that Lam, seen by some party members as a future leader and even compared to former prime minister David Cameron  is currently on “defection watch”.

To prevent such a move, Badenoch is reportedly considering promoting Lam in the reshuffle.