Patel lands cabinet position as shadow foreign secretary

Kemi Badenoch is set to make a highly controversial choice in one of the most senior jobs in her shadow cabinet with Dame Priti Patel set to be unveiled as shadow foreign secretary.

- DAVID MADDOX

However, sources close to the new Tory leader said that she has “no concerns” over Dame Priti being previously sacked as a cabinet minister for unauthorised meetings in Israel.

It is also being reported that Ms Badenoch’s rival in the leadership campaign, Robert Jenrick, has been offered and has accepted the role of shadow justice secretary in her cabinet.

Dame Priti was sacked in November 2017 as international development secretary by Theresa May when it emerged she had held unauthorised meetings in Israel. Up to a dozen meetings involving Lord Stuart Polak, honorary president of Conservative Friends of Israel took place while Patel was on a “private holiday”.

One meeting was with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She also discussed giving aid to field hospitals run by the Israeli Defence Force in the Golan Heights. In a humiliating exit, Baroness May forced Dame Priti to fly back from a trip abroad and come to Downing Street to be sacked.