Latest news with #MelStride
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kemi Badenoch reshuffling Tory shadow cabinet today - James Cleverly set to return to frontbench
Kemi Badenoch is reshuffling her shadow cabinet today - and former foreign secretary James Cleverly is set to return to the Conservative frontbench, Sky News understands. Ms Badenoch is reorganising her frontbench for the first time since she became Conservative leader - and leader of the opposition - in November 2024. Mr Cleverly, who served as both foreign and home secretary, is understood to be being brought into her shadow cabinet. Politics latest: However, it is understood Mr Cleverly will not be made shadow chancellor, currently Mel Stride's role, but is expected to get a major role. Many thought he would beat Ms Badenoch to the leadership role last year, but he failed to make the final two. Last week, asked if he still had leadership ambitions, Mr Cleverly said: "I've forced a discipline on myself which is not to jump at something." This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. You can receive Breaking News alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News App. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
James Cleverly to return as Kemi Badenoch reshuffles Tory frontbench
James Cleverly will return to the Conservative frontbench as Kemi Badenoch reshuffles her shadow cabinet on Tuesday. A Conservative source said the former leadership contender who served as home secretary would have a 'prominent role' in the reshuffled team. The shadow health secretary, Edward Argar, is expected to step down from his role due to personal issues. 'The leader of the opposition will be making some changes to her frontbench team today,' a Tory source confirmed. 'The changes reflect the next stage of the party's policy renewal programme and underline the unity of the party under new leadership. 'Sir James Cleverly is expected to return in a prominent frontbench role to take the fight to this dreadful Labour government.' A source close to the shadow chancellor, Mel Stride, said they believed he would be staying in post. The full changes are expected to be announced on Tuesday afternoon. Cleverly, who also served as foreign secretary, had returned to the backbenches after losing the leadership contest in the final round of MPs' votes, meaning Badenoch faced Robert Jenrick in the members' vote. Jenrick, who is still ambitious for the leadership, has maintained a prominent public profile as shadow justice secretary. In a speech last week, Cleverly warned the Conservatives against pursuing a populist agenda that would try to ape Nigel Farage's Reform UK. He also discounted the idea that he hoped to replace Badenoch, saying his party had to 'get out of this habit of cycling through leaders in the hope that ditching this one and picking a new one will make life easy for us'. Cleverly had been linked to a run as the Tory candidate for mayor of London and would not be drawn on his future ambitions when he gave the speech last week. He received a knighthood in April last year.
Sky News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Kemi Badenoch reshuffling Tory shadow cabinet today - James Cleverly set to return to frontbench
Kemi Badenoch is reshuffling her shadow cabinet today - and former foreign secretary James Cleverly is set to return to the Conservative frontbench, Sky News understands. Ms Badenoch is reorganising her frontbench for the first time since she became Conservative leader - and leader of the opposition - in November 2024. Mr Cleverly, who served as both foreign and home secretary, is understood to be being brought into her shadow cabinet. However, it is understood Mr Cleverly will not be made shadow chancellor, currently Mel Stride's role, but is expected to get a major role. Many thought he would beat Ms Badenoch to the leadership role last year, but he failed to make the final two. Last week, asked if he still had leadership ambitions, Mr Cleverly said: "I've forced a discipline on myself which is not to jump at something." Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Mayor to host London-Africa summit to boost capital's economy
The first Africa-London business summit will be held next year, Sir Sadiq Khan has announced during a trade mission to the continent. The mayor said the summit will be hosted in London with the aim of tapping into the "huge economic opportunities that a strong, mutual relationship with the continent can bring". Sir Sadiq Khan began his investment trip in Lagos, Nigeria, this week and will also see him visit Accra in Ghana, and Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Conservative shadow chancellor Mel Stride acknowledged that while cultural links "are very important", he feels the mayor should be in London "with his hands on the tiller" to tackle issues such as shoplifting. The summit would bring together entrepreneurs and investors, state officials and trade groups from across the 54-nation aim is to attract foreign investment to the capital and boost trade links, a City Hall spokesperson currently accounts for for 1.25% of foreign direct investment into London, according to figures from the mayor's office."Expanding ties with Africa will be key to delivering our international trade ambitions, creating thousands of good jobs in the next five years and beyond," Sir Sadiq said. "London has a rich history with the continent through our diaspora communities." Kolawole Ajayi, a Nigerian chef with a food stall and two restaurants in Peckham, south London, welcomed the prospect of strengthening ties. "We have a lot of brains [in Nigeria] that if London can nest that and create an opportunity, there will be a big growth," he told BBC London. "Gone are the days it's only India you can outsource to. There are brains in Nigeria, I promise you." Foreign Secretary and Tottenham MP, David Lammy, also welcomed the event, calling London a "global city where the world comes to do business".Nationally, trade with the African continent amounted to £49bn in 2024, according to the Office for National is a key sector for the growth in trade, the mayor told BBC News in Nigeria."Lagos is the number one tech city in Africa and London is the number one tech city in Europe."I'm hoping to create partnerships that leads to wealth, prosperity and jobs".
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Blow to Chancellor as UK economy shrank unexpectedly in May
The UK economy contracted unexpectedly in May, marking the second month in a row of falling output and heaping further pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 0.1% in May, following a 0.3% drop in April. Most economists had expected the economy to rebound with slight growth of 0.1% in May. The economy could now be heading for a contraction overall in the second quarter of the year, which would be a blow to Ms Reeves and the Government's key priority to drive economic growth. The pound was weaker after the data, falling 0.2% to 1.36 US dollars and 0.1% lower at 1.16 euros. Ms Reeves said the figures were 'disappointing' but renewed her pledge to boost economic growth. She said: 'Getting more money in people's pockets is my number one mission. 'While today's figures are disappointing, I am determined to kickstart economic growth and deliver on that promise.' If GDP fell by 0.4% or worse in June, it would mean the economy overall contracted in the second quarter. Shadow chancellor Mel Stride said the May GDP figures will 'pile even further pressure for tax rises in the autumn'. Experts said the weak May figure reinforces views that the Bank of England will cut interest rates again in August. Suren Thiru, economics director at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), said: 'The UK's growth trajectory in the near term is likely to tilt downwards as any uplift from higher consumer and Government spending is hampered by escalating business caution, amid fears of further tax rises in this autumn's budget. 'The lack of momentum in the UK economy indicated by these sluggish figures means that an August interest rate cut currently looks inevitable, despite the recent spike in inflation.' The ONS data shows that GDP was weighed on by the manufacturing sector, which suffered another steep decline in activity, and falling construction output. Activity in the manufacturing sector dropped 1% – the biggest decline since July last year – following a steep 0.7% fall in April, having surged earlier in the year as US importers stocked up before US President Donald Trump's tariff rises, which came into effect at the start of April. Liz McKeown, director of economic statistics at the ONS, said: 'The economy contracted slightly in May with notable falls in production and construction, only partially offset by growth in services. 'However, across the latest three months as a whole, the economy still grew. 'This reflected strength earlier in the year that resulted, in part, from some activity being brought forward to February and March.' She added: 'While services grew overall in May with a strong month for legal firms, which recovered from a weak April, and computer programming, these were partially offset by a very weak month for retail sales.' The data showed the construction sector contracted by 0.6% in May in a sharp reversal of 0.8% growth in April, while the services sector expanded by 0.1% in a bounce back after an upwardly revised 0.3% decline in April. Economist Matt Swannell, at the EY Item Club, said it was 'all but certain' that GDP would contract overall between April and June as US tariffs continue to weigh on activity. But Rob Wood, at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said he believed there were 'signs that GDP growth can rebound in June', which would help eke out growth in the quarter. He said falling output in April and May was largely due to 'erratic factors', such as worries over US trade tariffs.
