Kemi Badenoch has begun to put together his best team, giving some big jobs to his defeated leadership rivals.

And each appointment helps us learn a lot about him. assistant political editor Sam Coates he says.

The shadow chancellor, who chose Mel Stride, who is seen as a centrist compared to Ms Badenoch’s more right-wing leanings, claims he “doesn’t just want comrades from his own wing of the party”.

This suggests that he is “ready to listen to people who perhaps think slightly differently and to draw on a broader set of ideas than his own.”

As for Priti Patel’s shadow foreign secretary position, Sam thinks it is to reassure skeptical right-wingers who favor Robert Jenrick, whom she beat in the final of the leadership race.

Dame Priti, a former cabinet minister, is a “big figure” on the right who “can calm some nerves”.

And it’s a sign the new leader wants to prove he can “look to the future”, said shadow education secretary Laura Trott.

The former Treasury Undersecretary, who has been an MP since 2019, remains a relatively new face.

Neil O’Brien, one of Mr Jenrick’s campaign managers, also attended the training briefing, an election that showed Ms Badenoch “can even reach people who support her opponent”.

As for Mr Jenrick, he is prepared for an “anxious wait” to find out what job he will take after Ms Badenoch’s team refused to confirm reports that he was taking on the role of shadow justice minister.

We should get approval in the morning.