James Cleverly returns to Tory frontbench in reshuffle

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has brought James Cleverly back to the frontbench as shadow housing secretary as part of a small reshuffle of her top team.

Stuart Andrew has become the shadow health secretary, replacing Edward Argar who resigned from the position following a "health scare". 

In a letter to Badenoch, Argar said he had "concluded that lightening my frontbench workload over the coming months, in order to complete my recovery and fully restore my health in that period, is the sensible approach". 

The Tory leader took the opportunity to underake a slightly wider reshuffle than just replacing ministers wishing to stand down.

Kevin Hollinrake is the new Conservative party chairman, while former chairman Nigel Huddleston takes over as shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport to replace Andrew.

Richard Holden is now shadow transport secretary and Julia Lopez is shadow science secretary.

A new shadow cabinet role called the shadow minister for policy renewal and development has been created for Neil O'Brien.

The changes come at a time when Badenoch herself continues to be under pressure due to poor polling for the party.

The Conservatives have struggled to demonstrate signs of recovery in the opinion polls since last year's general election defeat, and in May suffered major local elections losses to Reform and the Liberal Democrats.

Cleverly, who ran unsuccessfully to be Tory leader last year, told PoliticsHome earlier this month that a “philosophical reset” is needed in how the British public views national defence, but also admitted that the Conservatives' general election pledge to introduce national service was a "counterproductive move".

He has also cautioned the party against pandering to Nigel Farage's Reform UK party.