Latest news with #reshuffle
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Call it the Kemi Badenoch conundrum: it's why the Tories are going nowhere fast
Kemi Badenoch's reshuffle of the shadow cabinet this week fell between two stools. It was not a de minimis reorganisation to account for the departure of Edward Argar from the health portfolio as a result of illness, but nor was it the sort of 'big bang' restructure that might have lent her leadership a sense of renewed momentum. I have heard few serious complaints about the appointments she did make, though a few – such as the removal of Jack Rankin, a close ally of Robert Jenrick, from his justice brief and his replacement with the Badenoch supporter Ben Obese-Jecty – have prompted some eye-rolls. You can detect similar tactics at work in the return to the frontbench of James Cleverly, who will now square off against Angela Rayner as shadow housing secretary. It's by no means an unwise appointment; Kevin Hollinrake, his predecessor, was not impressing in the role, and Cleverly is a strong media and Commons performer. But it can also be read as a bit of a balancing act. It is obviously destabilising for Badenoch's leadership to have Jenrick, the man almost universally regarded as her likely successor, as the highest-profile and best-performing member of the shadow cabinet. Elevating Cleverly, a potential rival, to a position where he can build a profile makes sense, in a divide-and-rule sort of way. The more serious sins, however, are sins of omission. By making changes to several major portfolios, such as appointing Richard Holden to transport, Badenoch has made all the changes she didn't make look like actual decisions. As such, her decision to retain the services of Priti Patel – whose only big moment since the general election has been a rash of well-deserved bad publicity when she asked to be thanked for the post-Brexit immigration 'Boriswave' – inevitably looks like an actual endorsement. Not helpful, if you're a leader trying to establish your own credibility on immigration. Ditto her not making space for rising stars of the 2024 intake, such as Katie Lam. In government, such a delay might make sense – but one of the urgent tasks facing the Tories is to present a fresh face to the electorate after 14 years in power, and Badenoch has missed an opportunity to do so. Politically, we might say that in the eyes of the party Badenoch had one mulligan on the shadow cabinet. Most people accept that it takes time for a new leader to find their feet, and that a leader's assessment of a colleague might be sharpened by actually working with them in opposition. Now she's had that mulligan, but at the same time hasn't really used it. More important, perhaps, is the departure of Lee Rowley as her chief of staff. Backroom appointments get less attention than ministerial changes, but they can be more significant. Rowley was one of Badenoch's few really close allies in politics, and such people play a critical role in any leadership. Theresa May might have survived the departure of Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill after the 2017 election, but it marked the point when she lost control of her own destiny. So what is going on? The semi-reshuffle illustrates a number of deep, structural problems facing Badenoch. Some of these are not her fault, others are. First, there is the simple fact that there are barely enough Conservative MPs to adequately staff the opposition frontbench. As such, any leader would need to give jobs to far more people than they didn't, which limits their ability to craft a shadow cabinet in their image – a problem compounded by the fact that the parliamentary Conservative party is deeply divided on the critical questions of what mistakes the party made in office and what it should do next. Any leader would face those problems. Badenoch has, however, made them more difficult for herself, most obviously by the way she won last year's leadership contest. Badenoch stood as a unifier, and has tried to make a virtue of party unity since becoming leader. But that unity was bought at a heavy price: not taking any policy positions. She summed up her pitch at her launch event as: 'I don't pretend I have all the answers, but I'm an engineer – and I know how to find them.' Tactically, this worked. But it did so by letting lots of people project their own hopes and preferences on to her. As a result, she can't build the shadow cabinet around a policy agenda because she doesn't have one yet; worse, agreeing one will be more difficult because nobody who backed her leadership committed themselves to any controversial policy changes by so doing. Further compounding all this is Badenoch's rapidly deteriorating position as leader. One plausible reason for not tapping up the 2024 intake is that bringing new people into the shadow cabinet team means kicking people out – and she cannot afford to create new enemies in the parliamentary party if she can possibly help it. In many ways, Badenoch's position is actually very similar to Rishi Sunak's during the dying days of the last government: trapped in an ever-weakening position and lacking the strength, the allies or the vision to make the sort of bold manoeuvre that alone might offer a way out. Henry Hill is deputy editor of ConservativeHome
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CEO of Russia-backed Indian refiner Nayara resigns after EU sanctions, sources say
(Refiles to fix formatting) By Nidhi Verma NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Russia-backed Indian refiner Nayara Energy has named a new chief executive after its previous CEO resigned following European Union sanctions that targeted the company, four sources with knowledge of the matter said on Friday. The reshuffle at the top is the latest disruption for the company since the EU announced a new round of sanctions last Friday directed at Russia over its war in Ukraine. This week, a tanker carrying Russian Urals crude was diverted away from Nayara's Vadinar port to unload its cargo at another port in western India, Reuters reported. That came after two other tankers skipped loading refined products from Vadinar, Reuters reported. Mumbai-based Nayara has appointed company veteran Sergey Denisov as chief executive to replace Alessandro des Dorides, the sources said. Denisov's appointment was decided at a board meeting on Wednesday, they said. Nayara Energy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Des Dorides, who joined Nayara Energy in April 2024, for a three-year term, did not immediately respond to a message sent on LinkedIn. In its announcement of his appointment last year, Nayara described Des Dorides as a 24-year veteran of the energy industry. He left Italian major Eni in 2019 after about six months as head of oil trading and operations. Denisov has been with Nayara since 2017. His LinkedIn profile describes him as Nayara's chief development officer. In recent days, Nayara's website has no longer carried pages listing its leadership. The company is one of India's two major private-sector refiners, along with the larger Reliance Industries. The pair have been India's biggest buyers of discounted Russian crude. Nayara, which operates India's third-biggest refinery at Vadinar in western Gujarat state, typically exports at least four million barrels of refined products per month, including diesel, jet fuel, gasoline and naphtha. It also operates more than 6,000 fuel stations. The 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) Vadinar refinery is equivalent to nearly 8% of India's total refining capacity of about 5.2 million bpd. Nayara Energy has criticised the EU's "unjust and unilateral" decision to impose sanctions. Russia's Rosneft holds a 49.13% stake in Nayara and a similar stake is owned by a consortium, Kesani Enterprises Co Ltd, led by Italy's Mareterra Group and Russian investment group United Capital Partners, according to a 2024 note by India's CARE Ratings agency. India, which has become the top importer of seaborne Russian oil in the aftermath of Moscow's Ukraine invasion, has also criticised the EU's sanctions. Rosneft, which said the sanctions on Nayara were unjustified and illegal, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Krish Jagarlamudi on 'Hari Hara Veera Mallu' exit; says ‘No Rift' with Pawan Kalyan; ready to work with him again
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Director Krish Jagarlamudi has finally spoken about his much-speculated exit from 'Hari Hara Veera Mallu' (HHVM), the historical action drama that starred Tollywood icon Pawan Kalyan . The filmmaker, who initially wrote and directed the ambitious project, remained silent for a long time after stepping away from the film midway. As reported by 123 Telugu, Krish addressed the rumours and firmly denied any rift or creative differences with Pawan Kalyan. He emphasized that he is open and ready to collaborate with the actor again in the future. Shared credits and a respectful silence After Krish left the project, AM Jyothi Krishna — the son of producer A.M. Rathnam — took over and completed the film. On the matter of shared credits for HHVM's direction, Krish said, 'the actual reason will be out very soon,' hinting at further clarity down the line. 01:36 Hari Hara Veera Mallu | Song - Evaradi Evaradi Despite the behind-the-scenes reshuffle, Pawan Kalyan continued to acknowledge and praise Krish during pre-release promotions, especially highlighting the strength of the story, which Krish had originally conceptualized. The mutual respect has left fans hopeful for a future project involving both the actor and the filmmaker. A filmmaker's heartfelt farewell to his vision Before HHVM's release, Krish had taken to social media with an emotional note about the film. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa Prices in Dubai Might Be Lower Than You Think! Villa for sale in Dubai | Search Ads Learn More Undo 'Now… Hari Hara Veera Mallu walks into the world. Not quietly.. but with purpose.. with the weight of history and passion behind every frame,' he wrote. Expressing his admiration for Pawan Kalyan, he said, 'There's a fire in him that no camera can fully capture… a kind of power that comes from purpose. His ever-burning spirit is what breathed life into HHVM. He gave it its spine, its soul, and its storm.' Krish also lauded A.M. Ratnam, calling him 'the architect behind some of Indian cinema's grand experiences' and credited both the actor and producer as the true forces behind HHVM. Ending his note, Krish called the film 'one of my most passionate battles' and a culmination of 'years of fire and faith.' Meanwhile, the Pawan Kalyan starrer is getting mostly mixed reviews from the audiences.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Tory reshuffle: James Cleverly to face off against Angela Rayner in dramatic comeback as Kemi Badenoch overhauls her top team
Kemi Badenoch moved to overhaul her top team today with Sir James Cleverly making a dramatic comeback. The Tory leader launched a reshuffle of the Conservative shadow cabinet saying it will kick-start the 'next stage' of 'renewal' after the party's disastrous election defeat. Her former leadership rival Sir James is understood to be taking on the housing brief, meaning he will face off against Deputy PM Angela Rayner. Sir Mel Stride is expected to stay as shadow Chancellor, while shadow home secretary Chris Philp and shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel are currently in the other key portfolios. Robert Jenrick is in the justice brief, but has ruffled some feathers by roaming widely across topics. Kevin Hollinrake has been moved from the housing role to become Tory chairman, while Nigel Huddleston switches from that job to cover culture. Shadow health secretary Ed Argar has revealed he is standing down after suffering a health scare, with Mrs Badenoch praising his contribution. He is being replaced by Stuart Andrew. Former minister John Glen is being made PPS to the party leader. Alan Mak leaves his role as shadow science and technology secretary and returns to the Tory back benches after rejecting the offer of an alternative job. He is being replaced by Julia Lopez. Gareth Bacon is no longer shadow transport secretary after that role was handed to Richard Holden. But current frontbenchers will be waiting nervously with Mrs Badenoch's former leadership rival James Cleverly expected to take one of the biggest jobs Shadow health secretary Ed Argar has revealed he is standing down after suffering a health scare, with Mrs Badenoch praising his contribution There is speculation that ex-Cabinet minister Lord Maude could also return to the front line. A Conservative source said: 'The Leader of the Opposition will be making some changes to her frontbench team today. '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.' Sir James served as both foreign secretary and home secretary when the Conservatives were in power. He stood as a candidate in last year's Conservative leadership election, but lost out on the Tory top job ahead of the final heat between Mrs Badenoch and her now-shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick. Since the leadership contest, Sir James has returned to the Tory back benches as the MP for Braintree. He has been warning against pursuing populist agenda akin to Nigel Farage's Reform UK. Appearing at the Institute For Public Policy Research (IPPR) think tank last week, the senior Tory hit out at calls to 'smash the system' and 'start again from scratch', branding them 'complete nonsense'. He has also appeared to strike a different tone on Net Zero from Mrs Badenoch, urging the Conservatives to reject climate change 'luddites' on the right who believe 'the way things are now is just fine'. In a letter to the party leader dated July 9 and shared by Mrs Badenoch on X today, Mr Argar said: 'I had a health scare earlier this summer and remain grateful to the doctors and hospital staff who looked after me.' He added: 'I have been well looked after, but have also listened to what the doctors said to me, and have listened to my family, and have concluded that lightening my front-bench workload over the coming months, in order to complete my recovery and fully restore my health in that period is the sensible approach.' Mrs Badenoch said in her X post that Mr Argar is preparing 'for his last parliamentary oral questions from the front bench'. In her letter responding to him, the Tory leader said she was 'very sorry' he was leaving the shadow cabinet. 'Though I am saddened that you feel unable to continue in the shadow cabinet, I strongly agree that you must put your health first,' she said in her letter. In January, after No10 said Rachel Reeves would remain Chancellor for all of Labour's first term, Mrs Badenoch's spokesman was asked if he could 'guarantee Mel Stride will remain in the same job for the next four years'. He replied 'yes' and repeated the confirmation when asked about the rest of the shadow cabinet. 'We are very happy with our shadow cabinet as it is, thank you,' he added. Labour said Mrs Badenoch still has the 'architects of 14 years of Tory failure' in her shadow cabinet after the Tory leader announced a reshuffle. Labour chairwoman Ellie Reeves said: 'No amount of deckchair shuffling can hide that the architects of 14 years of Tory failure still sit around Kemi Badenoch's top table. 'The Conservatives haven't changed and they haven't once apologised for the mess they left behind. 'Only Labour is focused on delivering a fairer Britain.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
With Cleverly centre stage, the Tories have a new look – but that isn't the same as a plan
It hardly compares for importance with all the cruelties in Gaza or Sudan. But then little else does that at present. It caused barely a ripple on the parochial surface of British politics either. That's hardly surprising at a time when Downing Street is warning about summer riots. Tellingly, the Daily Telegraph itself could only muster a single front-page paragraph on it on Wednesday, underneath Ozzy Osbourne's death and the England women's football extra-time squeaker. Yet Kemi Badenoch's shadow cabinet reshuffle this week should not be totally dismissed. See it instead as an inadequate recognition of an indisputable problem for any contemporary centre-right party, as well as an incoherent attempt to address it. If the Conservative party is very lucky, the reshuffle could be the start of better times. But it is nowhere near that point today. Right now, the reshuffle counts as the merest glimmer amid the Tory gloom. But a glimmer all the same. The reshuffle's headline event, in as much as there was one, is the return of James Cleverly to the Conservative frontbench. The official opposition party is, of course, a shadow of what it once was, with only 120 MPs at the last count, and Cleverly is not quite the political heavyweight he pretends. Yet he came within a whisker of leading the party last October. He also has far more spirit and public recognition than most of his colleagues. He stands for a form of continuity conservatism with what remains of the party's one nation instincts and pragmatic traditions that brought it such success for so long. He was also, until this week, his party's most underutilised backbench asset, and potentially the biggest backbench threat to Badenoch's rocky leadership. Unlike ex-ministers such as Rishi Sunak or Jeremy Hunt, Cleverly also still has a future. It made sense to have him back in the tent. From Badenoch's perspective, because Cleverly, a seasoned operator, has repeatedly made effective backbench attacks on Labour which should be better made from the frontbench. From Cleverly's, because he would once again be the most plausible candidate to stop the shadow justice secretary, Robert Jenrick, in the event of yet another Tory leadership contest. If Cleverly is to consolidate that position – which he must do to take momentum away from Jenrick's efforts to steal Nigel Farage's clothes – he will need to make an impact in his new role. It helps that housing, where he will now shadow Labour's Angela Rayner, is an issue on which Cleverly touched – perhaps with private foreknowledge about the reshuffle – in his IPPR speech this month. He has strong instincts on housing. He is against nimbyism. He says the party should not be afraid of making the case for new housing to people who already have houses. This points to why Cleverly's return is important more generally. Unlike Jenrick, he stands against cosying up to Reform UK. In June, speaking to the Conservative Environment Network shortly after Badenoch had ditched the party's 2050 net zero target – a move widely seen as a bending of the knee to Farage – he insisted that economic growth and 'environmental obligations' must go hand-in-hand. At the IPPR this month, his central argument was that the Tory party must stop aping Reform UK by pretending there are easy answers to difficult problems. The party had to be honest about the need for, and the challenges of, delivery. The key lines in his lecture came at the end: 'We don't need a revolution,' said Cleverly. 'We need a restoration – of competence, of delivery, and of trust.' Cleverly's return therefore raises an important broader question for the Tory party. Is Badenoch's decision to bring him into the shadow cabinet an attempt to pivot the Conservative party away from the populist right and towards the kind of more traditional centre-right stance that Cleverly embodies? In electoral terms, is it an attempt to move away from a concentration on working-class voters in the so-called red wall of Labour seats where Reform UK has established itself as the main contender? Or does it instead imply a renewed focus on more middle-class voters in the so-called former 'blue wall' where Ed Davey's Liberal Democrats have swept so many Tories aside? This is a big choice for the Conservatives – there is none bigger, in fact – and it is therefore important not to oversimplify it. It is not a choice about returning to the past. It is one that involves making judgments about almost everything that the party thinks it stands for in a fast-changing world – including social order, economic prosperity, individual freedom, cultural traditions, competence, global standing and more. It is also a UK variation of a question that simultaneously faces all former centre-right parties in the established democracies, all of which confront similar sets of issues. Only this week, Japanese voters handed out a rare electoral rocking to the centre-right government of the prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba. Plenty of Conservatives have been grappling seriously with these questions. In a joint project earlier this year, the Bright Blue thinktank and Germany's Konrad Adenauer Stiftung came up with a list of 10 priorities for the European centre right. These included an emphasis on shared national identity, simplified regulatory regimes, avoidance of zero-sum thinking, re-established competence, individual responsibility, shared values and customs, civility towards others, the state's role as carer, support for families, and environmental conservation. None of these is doctrinaire or narrow. Up to now, Badenoch has preferred to avoid such choices. She still seems to believe that moderation is not cool and therefore not effective. She prefers to fight on cultural issues rather than hard policy choices. She presents herself as the embodiment of contrarian cleverness, not as a strategist or problem solver who can run things well – the precise opposite of Cleverly's own self-presentation. She focuses her disdain on white-collar workers in state institutions – a large group of voters the Conservatives have been steadily losing and which her approach does nothing to reverse. She goes out of her way to praise Donald Trump and JD Vance, both of whom are unpopular with UK voters. In reality, one of the smartest things she could do would be to become a Trump critic. If bringing Cleverly back is indeed meant as a pivot to the traditional centre right, then it is an extremely cunningly camouflaged one. Such a shift is not inherently impossible, and the Bright Blue-KAS report shows many ways in which it could be attempted. But it is exceptionally hard to believe in when the party is so battered by defeat and so frightened of Farage. With the Conservatives now averaging just 17% in the polls, there is a lot of ground to regain, but no sign under its current leader of any serious strategy for doing so. Martin Kettle is a Guardian columnist
