EXC: Shadow Reshuffle Imminent as Badenoch Shakes Up Tory Operation
Guido has had it all but confirmed that there is an incoming shadow ministerial reshuffle before summer recess. Personnel changes have been underway in the Tory operation since Guido exclusively revealed old hand Mark McInnes, former head of the party in Scotland, was hired as the new CEO of CCHQ…
Grandee Francis Maude is increasingly tipped as the next party chairman – a point first made on this site some weeks back – while Guido hears LOTO is weighing up moving some ministers Badenoch is felt to be less aligned with. Names including Nigel Huddleston, Ed Argar, Joy Morrissey, and Victoria Atkins have come up for moves, neither positive nor negative, but moves nevertheless…
Were Kemi to demote clearly strong performers like Andrew Griffith or Rob Jenrick then eyebrows would be raised. Some senior Tories are of the view that Badenoch should at least wait until Labour has completed their own reshuffle to make sure that the shadows match up well with Cabinet ministers. Others question whether there is the political capital to reshuffle the shadow cabinet in the first place, especially seeing as LOTO had previously guaranteed the frontbench would remain the same until the election. The only question that matters to rank and file Tories is whether it makes any difference to the polls…
