Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has made Sir James Cleverly her shadow housing secretary as part of a reshuffle of her senior team. The new role will see the former foreign and home secretary go head-to-head with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner in Parliament.

Sir James Cleverly ran to be leader against Kemi Badenoch but lost and committed himself to the backbenches after the Conservatives lost the election.

Kemi Badenoch has kicked off a reshuffle of her shadow cabinet, with Sir James Cleverly set to return to the Conservative Party front bench. The Tory leader is bringing her former leadership rival back to the frontline to build party unity and bolster the party’s credibility.