Jennifer McKiernan
Political journalist

Kemi Badenoch’s next big decisions will concern who to appoint to his top ranks – but some MPs are already excluding themselves.

Sir Keir Starmer appointed 111 ministers when he took power, but the number of Tory MPs was reduced to 121 in July’s historic defeat, making it difficult to oversee all those portfolios.

Just before the result, James Cleverly, his leadership rival and shadow home secretary, said he would not accept an expected offer of a role in his shadow cabinet.

Shadow chancellor Jeremy Hunt also said he would “step aside” from the shadow cabinet, saying the Conservatives “don’t need to show new faces” to the British public after a “big drubbing” in the election.

Now Steve Barclay has posted on X to announce he will also be stepping down as shadow environment secretary.

He said: “After nine years in the front row, the last six of which were in Cabinet, I decided to return to the backbenches, away from the constraints of life as Prime Minister and to spend more time in as a father.