Patel to be replaced by Tugendhat as shadow foreign secretary

Former Tory leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat will replace Dame Priti Patel as shadow foreign secretary, BBC News has been told.

As first reported by the Daily Telegraph, he will return to the Conservative front bench when Kemi Badenoch reshuffles her team next month.

Dame Priti wrote on social media that she would be leaving the role to take up a new position designed to "strengthen links with sister parties and centre right movements around the world".

It comes a day after shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly said he was resigning in order to run for London mayor.

A Conservative reshuffle had already been expected in the coming weeks because of the shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho's upcoming maternity leave.

In recent weeks, people within the party have played down speculation that the shadow chancellor Mel Stride could also lose his job.

But some sources within the party still believe Badenoch could choose to replace Stride.

Many within the Conservative Party view Coutinho as a likely future shadow chancellor. The shadow energy secretary is said to have impressed colleagues with her performances in Parliament and the media.

But it is unlikely Badenoch will move to appoint her as shadow chancellor while she is on leave from the front bench.