TORY leader Kemi Badenoch is reshuffling the shadow cabinet – bringing James Cleverly back to a frontbench role.

The previous Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary was formerly a rival for the Conservative Party leadership.

It was thought Badenoch, 45, would carry out a minor reshuffling to replace a few ministers who wanted to step down.

But the BBC reports she’s instead decided to go for a massive overhaul.

A party source confirmed the reshuffle to the BBC, saying: “The leader of the opposition will be making some changes to her frontbench team today.

“The changes reflect the next stage of the party’s policy renewal programme and underline the unity of the party under new leadership.

“Sir James Cleverly, is expected to return in a prominent front bench role to take the fight to this dreadful Labour government.”

A full list of changes to Badenoch’s team is expected this afternoon.

Cleverly was Home Secretary between November 2023 and July 2024.

He was also previously Foreign Secretary, between September 2022 and November 2023.

Before that, he was the Secretary of State for Education from July 2022 to September 2022.

He was knighted by ex-PM Rishi Sunak in the 2024 Prime Minister’s Resignation Honours “for political and public service”.

During the battle for leadership of the Tories, Cleverly and Badenoch publicly clashed in debates.

He has been a backbench MP since being eliminated from the leadership election in October 2024.

Badenoch went on to defeat her closest rival, the now-shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick.

It is not yet known what role Cleverly will take up in the shadow cabinet.