Kemi Badenoch has completed a major reshuffle of her Shadow Cabinet, handing rising Conservative MP Katie Lam the housing and local government brief vacated by Sir James Cleverly and promoting two more members of the party's 2024 intake into senior roles.
Lam has been appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, while Rebecca Paul becomes Shadow Culture Secretary and Harriet Cross takes over as Shadow Scotland Secretary.
The appointments form part of Badenoch's biggest reconstruction of her top team since becoming Conservative leader and bring several MPs first elected in 2024 directly into the Shadow Cabinet.
Katie Lam handed Cleverly's former brief
Lam, the MP for Weald of Kent, succeeds Cleverly after the former Home and Foreign Secretary left the front bench to pursue the Conservative nomination for Mayor of London.
Her new portfolio puts her at the centre of Conservative policy on housing, planning, local government and communities.
Lam was first elected to Parliament at the 2024 general election and had been serving in the Conservative Whips' Office before her promotion.
She has quickly developed a prominent profile on the Conservative right, including through interventions on immigration, grooming gangs and the treatment of military veterans.
Housing becomes major test for rising Tory MP
The scale of Lam's new brief makes her promotion particularly significant. Housing and planning are expected to remain major political battlegrounds as the Conservatives challenge the Government's housebuilding programme and reforms to the planning system.
She will also be responsible for the Conservative response to local government policy and reorganisation, placing a relatively new MP in charge of one of the opposition's broadest domestic portfolios.
The appointment represents a rapid rise for an MP who entered the Commons only two years ago.
Rebecca Paul promoted to Culture
Rebecca Paul, the MP for Reigate, has also entered the Shadow Cabinet after being appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
She replaces Nigel Huddleston, who has returned to the back benches.
Paul was first elected in 2024 and previously worked in tax, including roles at EY and Diageo, before entering Parliament. She had also been serving in the Conservative Whips' Office.
Her new portfolio covers broadcasting, the creative industries, sport, tourism and cultural policy.
Harriet Cross takes Scotland brief
Harriet Cross, another member of the 2024 Conservative intake, has been appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland.
The MP for Gordon and Buchan replaces Andrew Bowie, who moves to become Shadow Energy Secretary.
Cross has been a vocal supporter of the North Sea oil and gas industry, an issue likely to feature prominently in the Conservatives' political battle with the Government over energy and Scotland.
Her appointment means three MPs elected for the first time in 2024 - Lam, Paul and Cross - now hold full Shadow Cabinet portfolios.
Joy Morrissey takes women and equalities role
Joy Morrissey has also joined the revamped team as Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities.
The changes add to a reshuffle which has already seen Andrew Griffith replace Sir Mel Stride as Shadow Chancellor, Tom Tugendhat take over from Dame Priti Patel as Shadow Foreign Secretary and Damian Hinds become Shadow Health Secretary.
Claire Coutinho has moved to Shadow Business Secretary, with Julia Lopez covering the brief during Coutinho's maternity leave, while Andrew Bowie has taken the energy portfolio.
Badenoch says party moving towards 'preparation for government'
The Conservatives have presented the reshuffle as a move into a new phase after rebuilding following their 2024 general election defeat.
In a statement reported alongside the completed Shadow Cabinet, the party said it was moving from recovery towards preparation for government and that the reshuffle reflected that change of emphasis.
Several senior figures remain in place. Chris Philp continues as Shadow Home Secretary, James Cartlidge remains Shadow Defence Secretary, Laura Trott stays at Education and Kevin Hollinrake remains Conservative Party chairman.
A new generation enters the top team
The elevation of Lam, Paul and Cross gives the reshuffle a generational dimension alongside the changes to the Conservatives' economic and foreign-policy teams.
Rather than relying entirely on ministers who served in previous Conservative governments, Badenoch has handed substantial portfolios to MPs with only two years of experience in the Commons.
Lam's appointment is the most striking example. Cleverly's former housing and communities portfolio covers some of the biggest domestic policy arguments facing Westminster, giving the Weald of Kent MP an immediate opportunity to establish herself as one of the party's leading frontbench figures.
With the reshuffle now complete, the new team will be tasked with taking the Conservative case to the Government as Parliament returns and the parties prepare for the autumn political season.