Arabic version: توغندهات يخلف باتيل في منصب وزير الخارجية في حكومة الظل

According to BBC News, former Conservative leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat will replace Dame Priti Patel as shadow foreign secretary when Kemi Badenoch reshuffles her team next month.

Tugendhat will return to the Conservative front bench. The change was first reported by the Daily Telegraph, BBC News said.

Dame Priti said on social media that she was leaving the role to take up a new position intended to “strengthen links with sister parties and centre right movements around the world”.

The move follows shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly’s announcement that he is resigning to run for London mayor. A reshuffle had already been expected in the coming weeks because shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho is due to take maternity leave.

People within the party have recently played down speculation that shadow chancellor Mel Stride could lose his role, though some sources still believe Badenoch could replace him. Many Conservatives see Coutinho as a likely future shadow chancellor, but she is unlikely to be appointed while away from the front bench.