Kemi Badenoch has begun a reshuffle of her top team with Tory heavyweight Dame Priti Patel becoming the first high-profile casualty.
The Conservative leader is scrambling to bolster her shadow cabinet as she prepares to take on new Prime Minister Andy Burnham when Parliament returns this week.
Patel moved aside
Dame Priti, who has been Shadow Foreign Secretary for nearly two years, is expected to be replaced by ex-minister Tom Tugendhat and handed a new role strengthening the Conservatives' links with right-wing parties worldwide.
The former Home Secretary said her demotion will give her "greater freedom to stand up" for her Witham and Essex constituency in the Commons.
Mr Tugendhat, a former Security Minister, has been on the backbenches since losing out to Ms Badenoch in the Tory leadership race in 2024.
Further changes expected
Mrs Badenoch is also set to name a new Shadow Housing Secretary after Sir James Cleverly announced he was stepping down in a bid to become London Mayor.
The Tories still need to formally select a candidate for the May 2028 contest but Sir James, a former Cabinet Minister, is a more high-profile choice than controversial London assemblywoman Susan Hall, who was defeated by Labour's Sir Sadiq Khan in 2024.
Stuart Andrew was the next out of the door, confirming he would be returning to the backbenches after serving as Shadow Health Secretary. His replacement has not yet been confirmed.
He said: "I am proud of the role I played in the months immediately after the General Election in ensuring we hit the ground running in Opposition, and I wish Kemi, my successor and the whole Shadow Cabinet every success for the future."
More departures loom
The fate of other Tory big beasts, such as Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride, is expected to become clear, with speculation that Mrs Badenoch could find roles for several rising stars, including hard-liner Katie Lam.
A replacement is needed for Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho, who is due to go on maternity leave.
Shadow Solicitor General Helen Grant is also expected to leave the Shadow Cabinet after announcing she will step down as an MP at the next election following a battle with cancer.
Ms Badenoch has been battling to turn around her party's dire fortunes after its worst ever election defeat.
She has seen a surge in her personal poll ratings but her popularity vastly outstrips those of her tarnished party, which has been outflanked on the right by Nigel Farage's Reform UK.
