Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Conservative MP Priti Patel has been relieved of her role as shadow foreign secretary as Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch carries out a major reshuffle of her top team this week. Patel said she will move to the backbenches and take up a new international role for the Conservative Party.
The reshuffle comes at the end of the parliamentary summer recess, as Andy Burnham prepares to make his first appearance in the House of Commons since being appointed prime minister last month. Among the reported changes, former leadership rival Tom Tugendhat is set to replace Patel, while there are also changes to the shadow chancellor and shadow business secretary roles.
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The 54-year-old British Indian Tory MP announced the move on social media on Sunday night. “I’m pleased to continue supporting Kemi and the Conservative Party in a new role strengthening our relationships with fellow Conservatives and centre-right parties around the world,” said Patel.
“At a time of profound global uncertainty, when our values and freedoms are under threat, conservatives must work more closely together,” she said. Patel, who was made a Dame for political and public service three years ago, said returning to the backbenches of the Commons would also give her “greater freedom to stand up” for her Witham constituency in Essex.
Badenoch described Patel, one of the most prominent Indian-heritage MPs in her top team, as “exceptionally loyal, hard-working and supportive during a very difficult period for the party”. She said: “She came into the shadow cabinet when we needed experienced people who could operate without a large infrastructure behind them. Priti has done a very important job. Now I am asking her to do another important job, as international secretary of the Conservative Party.”
According to The Daily Telegraph, Patel has been replaced by former Conservative leadership rival Tom Tugendhat. The former army officer has previously served as security minister in the Tory-led government and also chaired the influential Foreign Affairs Select Committee in the Commons.
Among the other major changes on the Opposition frontbenches when Parliament resumes from Tuesday are shadow chancellor Mel Stride being replaced by Andrew Griffith. Goan-heritage MP Claire Coutinho, who will soon be on maternity leave, will move into Griffith’s former role as shadow business secretary, with Julia Lopez managing the brief in her absence.
Another former cabinet minister and senior Tory MP, James Cleverly, has announced his resignation as shadow communities secretary to enter the race to become the Conservative candidate for London Mayor in the May 2028 election. Labour mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, who is of Pakistani heritage, is yet to confirm whether he will seek a fourth term to lead the UK capital. Sir James, who served as foreign secretary under former prime minister Rishi Sunak, said he wanted to make London a city to be proud of again. “We must rebuild its reputation and make it, once again, the best place in the world to live, work, invest and build a business,” he said.
Overall, Badenoch’s reshuffle marks a significant reset of her frontbench team, with Patel moving to an international party role, Tugendhat expected to take over the foreign affairs brief, and further changes across key Opposition posts.
With PTI Inputs
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
