Mel Stride, the Devon MP and former shadow chancellor, lost his job in a Bank Holiday reshuffle. He says he is now looking forward to working from the back benches.
He also said he was 'especially proud' of the work he and his colleagues had done to rebuild the Conservatives' economic credibility.
Sir Mel, knighted in Rishi Sunak's resignation honours list in 2024, has been the Tory MP for Central Devon since 2010, a constituency covering Okehampton, Crediton, Moretonhampstead and Ashburton.
He followed Jeremy Hunt into the role of shadow chancellor in November 2024. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch praised his loyalty and stability in a public statement following her decision to remove him and replace him with Arundel and South Downs MP Andrew Griffith, a former chairman of fast food delivery company Just Eat.
In a social media statement following the reshuffle, Sir Mel said: “If we care at all about people’s living standards, about delivering world class public services, a society at peace with itself and fully protecting our country in a challenging world, then we need a credible Conservative plan to deliver far stronger economic growth.
“That starts with establishing fiscal responsibility and taking the tough choices on spending. I am proud that we have made an important start with our pledges to abolish Stamp Duty, cut business rates and increase the incentives for people – especially young people – to work, as well as tackling the overbearing state that is so often holding us back.
“The Conservative party must continue to champion an approach which is both radical and deliverable. It is essential that the next Conservative government does things very differently, backing business like never before and getting government out of the way.
“I am now looking forward to continuing to make a real contribution to the Conservative team in parliament and beyond, to build and amplify our vision for Britain, from the back benches.”
Devon MP Looks Forward to Backbench Role After Reshuffle