Kemi Badenoch tipped to reshuffle Shadow Cabinet in just DAYS in bid to quell restless backbench MPs

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Some of the Conservative leader's top team have been accused of being 'lazy' by party insiders

Kemi Badenoch has been tipped to reshuffle her Shadow Cabinet in just days in a bid to quell her restless backbenchers.

MPs are due to return to Parliament for a brief stint in Westminster on September 1, which is when the Conservative leader is believed to be eyeing up an overhaul of her top team.

Claire Coutinho, the Shadow Energy Secretary who has been dubbed a rising star within the party, is expected to step down before she takes maternity leave later on in the year.

Meanwhile, Shadow Solicitor General Helen Grant, the MP for Maidstone and Malling, is also said to be bidding adieu to the Conservative frontbench.

Julia Lopez, who has stuck with Mrs Badenoch since the start of her leadership campaign, has had her department abolished by Andy Burnham.

As a result, the Shadow Science and Technology Secretary is believed to take over a new brief.

The upcoming rejig of the Conservative team has been fuelled by eager backbenchers who are keen to take part on the political frontline, insiders told The Telegraph.

"A lot of the new intake want jobs because they think that the Shadow Cabinet are lazy and they are having to pick up a lot of the slack," one said.

The reshuffle is expected to come ahead of the party's annual conference in October, when shadow ministers will make their case before a gaggle of political journalists and membership.

Rumours have also swirled in favour of Mrs Badenoch promoting Katie Lam, who has historically been tipped to jump over to Reform UK.

Once one of Boris Johnson's closest advisers, Ms Lam, now a Shadow Home Office minister, has ruled out joining Nigel Farage's party.

One supporter of Ms Lam told GB News she was an "up-and-coming star" - and would assist Mrs Badenoch with the "promise of renewal" the Tory leader has spent the past two years setting out.

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An insider suggested Harriet Cross, a Scottish MP, could be in for a promotion following the Tories' historic win in Aberdeen South earlier this year.

Sir Mel Stride, the Shadow Chancellor, has been indicated as one of those who are at risk of being demoted, as well as Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel, who has been accused of being "invisible" on the world stage.

Both past leadership contenders in the 2024 contest, the pair were handed top jobs as Mrs Badenoch vowed to construct a broadchurch in a renewed Conservative Party.

But other sources claimed both were safe due to Mrs Badenoch failing to have adequate replacements on stand-by to step into their shoes.

Additionally, Sir Mel and Dame Priti are deemed to be too-closely associated with Conservative Governments.

Dame Priti's tenure as Home Secretary, overseeing the "Boriswave", has been repeatedly attacked by Reform HQ and caused a headache for the party on several occasions.

Now, the anticipated swap-around has been billed as the largest reshaping of Mrs Badenoch since she took control of the Tories.

The party's 2026 conference will take place in Birmingham on October 4 until October 7.