Kemi Badenoch, the new Tory leader, has made a controversial decision by appointing Dame Priti Patel as the shadow foreign secretary. Despite concerns over Patel’s previous dismissal as a cabinet minister for unauthorized meetings in Israel, Badenoch stands by her decision.
Patel was sacked in 2017 by Theresa May for holding unapproved meetings with Israeli officials during a private holiday. These meetings included discussions about aid to Israeli field hospitals in the Golan Heights. Despite her past, Patel has since made a comeback as Boris Johnson’s home secretary and a leadership candidate.
Her appointment as shadow foreign secretary signals a strong pro-Israel stance on the Middle East crisis and a skeptical view on foreign aid. Patel’s support for Brexit and her reputation as a hardcore Brexiteer have also played a role in her appointment.
In addition to Patel, Badenoch has appointed other allies to key positions in the shadow cabinet. This includes Dame Rebecca Harris as chief whip and Laura Trott as shadow education secretary. The full shadow cabinet is set to be revealed soon, with Robert Jenrick expected to be appointed as shadow justice secretary.
Overall, Badenoch’s choices for her shadow cabinet reflect a mix of long-term supporters and allies. The upcoming announcements will shed more light on the direction the Tories will take in key policy areas such as education and international aid. The new shadow cabinet will have its first meeting in parliament soon, setting the stage for the party’s future direction under Badenoch’s leadership.
