Cleverly returns to face Angela Rayner as Badenoch reshuffles Tory shadow cabinet

Kemi Badenoch has reshuffled her shadow cabinet today - with former foreign secretary Sir James Cleverly returning to the Conservative frontbench.

It is the first reorganisation of her shadow cabinet since she became Conservative leader - and leader of the opposition - in November 2024. Politics latest: Another Tory defects to Reform Sky News understands Sir James will become shadow secretary for housing, communities and local government, opposite Angela Rayner, who is also deputy prime minister.

Sir James will not be made shadow deputy PM, with Ms Badenoch not filling that role. However, Alex Burghart informally deputises for her.

It is understood Sir James will focus on "bread and butter" Conservative causes such as keeping council tax low and raising house building targets. The senior Tory served as foreign and home secretary and many thought he would beat Ms Badenoch to the leadership last year, but he failed to make the final two and was not in her initial shadow cabinet after committing himself to the backbenches.

Last week, asked if he still had leadership ambitions, Sir James said: "I've forced a discipline on myself which is not to jump at something." Sir James takes over the role from Kevin Hollinrake, who has been appointed Conservative Party chair and was a businessman before entering parliament. Earlier on Tuesday, Ms Badenoch announced Ed Argar was stepping down as shadow health secretary following a recent health scare and another last year, which he said "has continued to impact me".

In his resignation letter, Mr Argar said he has listened to his doctors and family and concluded he needed to lighten his workload to complete his recovery and "fully restore my health" - and hopes he can be on the frontbench again. Mr Argar will be replaced by Stuart Andrew, who was shadow digital, culture, media and sport secretary and worked with care homes before becoming an MP.

Conservative chair Nigel Huddleston will take over Mr Andrew's brief. As Reform welcomed another Tory defector to the party, leader Nigel Farage said the reshuffle was a non-entity and believes the Conservatives "will cease to be a national party" after the May local elections next year.

Welsh Senedd member Laura Anne Jones defected to Reform at midday on Tuesday, moments before details of the reshuffle got out..