Andrew Griffith has been appointed as the new shadow chancellor, replacing Sir Mel Stride as part of a wider shadow cabinet reshuffle by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.
The key appointment comes ahead of the Conservative Party's conference in October. As part of the ongoing shake-up, Claire Coutinho, who previously served as the shadow energy secretary, will step into Griffith's former role as shadow business secretary. Additionally, Tom Tugendhat has taken over from Dame Priti Patel as the shadow foreign secretary.
Badenoch praised Sir Mel's tenure as shadow chancellor, a role he had held since 2024. The party leader thanked him for helping the Conservatives rebuild their economic credibility and establish themselves as an effective opposition.
A senior Conservative source explained the strategy behind the changes, stating that Badenoch is reshaping the party's approach to economic policy. The source noted that she is establishing a new economic leadership team for the next phase, with a focus on growth, higher living standards, and fiscal credibility.
Sir Mel described his time in the senior Tory role as a "great honour." He added that he looks forward to continuing to make a real contribution to the Conservative team in Parliament and beyond, building and amplifying their vision for Britain from the back benches.
