Kemi Badenoch appointed as Conservative leader for first time | Politics news

Kemi Badenoch has received her first appointment as the new leader of the Conservative Party.

It is understood that Rebecca Harris, MP for Castle Point in Essex, will become the party’s chief whip, replacing Stuart Andrew.

Mr Andrew wrote on social media platform X: “It has been an honor and privilege to serve as Leader of the Conservative Party.

“She (Harris) is a great friend and a great whip. I wish her all the best in this role.”

The announcement came the next day Miss Badenoch defeated Robert Jenrick replace Rishi Sunak as party leader.

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The 44-year-old North West Essex MP did not immediately announce who would be in her top team, but suggested that anyone competing with her in the leadership could be involved.

However, the former Foreign Minister James Cleverly Yesterday it became known that he would return to the bench.

Dame Rebecca, 56, has been the MP for Castle Point since May 2010 and supported the Leave campaign during the 2016 Brexit referendum.

She was also Comptroller of the Household between July 2022 and July 2024, an ancient and largely ceremonial role assigned to the government whip.

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