Kemi Badenoch’s shadow cabinet reshuffle, carried out before Parliament returned on Tuesday, has removed Sir Mel Stride as shadow chancellor and appointed Andrew Griffith in his place, a move that has immediately drawn fire over Griffith’s role in the September 2022 mini-budget under Liz Truss. The shake-up also brought several MPs from the 2024 intake into senior frontbench positions, and comes ahead of the Conservative Party‘s conference in October.
Griffith appointment and the mini-budget shadow
The choice of Griffith as the Conservatives’ new face on economic policy has put the 2022 mini-budget back in the spotlight. As a Treasury minister during Truss’s premiership, Griffith played a central part in a package of £45 billion in unfunded tax cuts that triggered turmoil in financial markets, according to Left Foot Forward. In the days that followed the mini-budget, the pound fell to a record low and government borrowing costs, along with mortgage interest rates, surged sharply.
Political opponents were quick to make the connection. Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper said it was ‘clear Conservatives haven’t learned a thing’ and that Griffith’s appointment ‘shows they’re happy to forfeit any claim to economic credibility in their race to the bottom’ with Reform UK. Treasury minister Emma Reynolds said on social media: ‘The new shadow chancellor backed Liz Truss to be PM and he was a treasury minister during the Tories’ disastrous 2022 mini budget which left families paying the price. Same old Tories, same old economic policies.’
A senior Tory source defended the appointment, pointing to Griffith’s ‘incredibly impressive financial and business background’, including his work as a former Sky executive and as chairman of Just Eat. The source added: ‘While the Labour front bench has almost no private sector experience, Andrew’s experience means he not only knows but understands the many issues that businesses face and has a wealth of contacts in the business community.’
Badenoch shadow cabinet reshuffle: the full picture
Claire Coutinho, who had been shadow energy secretary, moves across to shadow business secretary and will also serve as Griffith’s deputy across the economic brief, according to The Independent. Coutinho is currently on maternity leave, and her role will be covered by Julia Lopez until the new year. Andrew Bowie, formerly shadow Scotland secretary, steps up to fill Coutinho’s previous position as shadow energy secretary.
At the top of the foreign affairs brief, Tom Tugendhat replaces Dame Priti Patel, who left her role as shadow foreign secretary on Sunday. Sir James Cleverly announced on Saturday that he would step down as shadow housing secretary to pursue the Conservative candidacy for London mayor. Katie Lam, elected in 2024 and previously an opposition whip, has been appointed to replace him.
Two other MPs from the 2024 intake have been given their first shadow cabinet roles: Rebecca Paul as shadow culture secretary and Harriet Cross as shadow Scotland secretary. Stuart Andrew has left his post as shadow health secretary, replaced by Damian Hinds. Joy Morrissey, a former opposition whip, has been appointed shadow minister for women and equalities.
Sir Mel, meanwhile, joins Dame Priti and Sir James on the back benches. A number of senior figures have kept their positions, among them shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge, shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins, shadow transport secretary Richard Holden, and Conservative chairman Kevin Hollinrake.
With Parliament back in session and the party conference approaching, Badenoch will be hoping her reshuffled team can shift attention to policy. Whether Griffith’s mini-budget record allows that shift will become clear when the shadow chancellor faces Treasury questions for the first time.
