James Cleverly‘s return to the Tory frontbench is designed to send out a reassuring signal to the dwindling party faithful that all is well, despite appearances to the contrary.
The former home and foreign secretary is seen at Westminster as a genuine ‘big beast’, who has been licking his wounds on the backbenches for months after missing out on the Tory leadership in chaotic circumstances last year.
The decision to deploy him shadowing Angela Rayner gives the Tories another high-profile communicator, in return for effectively making him Kemi Badenoch‘s deputy.
One source close to the leadership said his return ‘shows the party is united and has our best players on the pitch’.
Mr Cleverly has been told to take the fight to Labour over council tax, which is seen as a key vulnerability. He will also return to being a frequent Tory voice on the airwaves, where he has long been seen as one of the party’s most effective operators.
But his return also risks reopening debates on whether to take a tougher line on immigration and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) which had appeared close to being settled.
Reform UK is already said to be working up an attack dossier bringing together his past comments on immigration, including claims he once described the Rwanda deportation scheme as ‘bats***’.
Former Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf said Mr Cleverly’s return was a sign that ‘the Tory wets are reasserting themselves’, adding: ‘He doesn’t even want to leave the ECHR.’
James Cleverly pictured in October. His return to the Tory frontbench is designed to send out a reassuring signal to the dwindling party faithful that all is well
The decision to deploy him shadowing Angela Rayner gives the Tories another high-profile communicator, in return for effectively making him Kemi Badenoch’s deputy
It did not go unnoticed that there was no promotion for the hyperactive shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, who has garnered more headlines than anyone else, but whose sharp-elbowed approach has infuriated shadow cabinet colleagues along the way.
Mr Jenrick’s supporters had been angling for one of the top three jobs, with a particular eye on the role of shadow Chancellor.
In the end Sir Mel Stride stayed put, as did shadow home secretary Chris Philp and shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel.
One Tory malcontent described the reshuffle as ‘wholly defensive’, saying: ‘They have been talking about bringing back Cleverly as Kemi’s deputy since January – it’s the card they’ve kept in their back pocket for if things got difficult.’
The source added: ‘The whole reshuffle is totally uninspiring and wholly defensive. This is the team who took us to 17 per cent in the polls signalling that they are intent on holding on to our status as the fourth party in British politics.’
There is also anger in some quarters about the decision to persist with Sir Mel in the critical role shadowing Rachel Reeves and setting the Tories’ economic direction.
Supporters point to the Tories’ success in forcing Ms Reeves into a U-turn over winter fuel. But critics argue that Labour’s economic woes have been largely self-inflicted – and that the Tories’ own offerings on the economy have been ‘uninspired’.
Some accuse him of trying to limit the media appearances of the Thatcherite shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith, who has adopted a more aggressive tone.
It did not go unnoticed that there was no promotion for the hyperactive shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, pictured in July
There are whispers that Sir Mel Stride only kept his job because of his close friendship with Michael Gove, pictured in February
Others whisper he has only kept his job because of his close friendship with Michael Gove. Sir Mel spent years hosting dinners for Mr Gove as he wined and dined prospective supporters for his doomed leadership bids.
Although Mr Gove is now in the Lords, Mrs Badenoch was once his protégé and several of his former aides hold positions at the very top of her team.
One senior Tory said: ‘The things that matter are the economy and crime, and on the economy in particular we are not making nearly enough impact.
‘Mel has been underwhelming and it does look like he is keeping his job because of all those dinners he cooked for Gove.’
There were some smart appointments yesterday, such as bringing in the cerebral former No 10 adviser Neil O’Brien to beef up the party’s threadbare policy offering.
But there was no movement for the party’s rising stars who might have helped give Mrs Badenoch’s team a fresher look.
Tory aides insist the reshuffle was forced upon her by the wish of shadow health secretary Ed Argar to quit following a medical scare.
Mrs Badenoch herself last night said her new top team ‘reflects the rich experience’ within the party. But, with the Tories still sinking in the polls after a desperately difficult year, many would have liked to see something much more radical.
