Kemi Badenoch is kicking off a Tory reshuffle as Cabinet veteran Priti Patel leaves the front bench.
Mrs Badenoch is making changes to her top team with Tom Tugendhat tipped to take Dame Priti's old foreign affairs brief.
The Opposition leader also needs to fill the shadow housing secretary role after James Cleverly announced he will be focusing on a bid for the London Mayoralty.
Cover will be needed for the highly-rated shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho, who is due to go on maternity leave.
The fate of other big beasts such as shadow chancellor Mel Stride is unclear, as Mrs Badenoch looks to sharpen her attack on new PM Andy Burnham with Parliament returning tomorrow.
Katie Lam is among those in the frame for promotion to a bigger job.
Kemi Badenoch is making changes to her top team with Tom Tugendhat tipped to take Dame Priti's old foreign affairs brief
Mr Tugendhat is seen as one of the most hawkish MPs on China
Priti Patel is leaving the front bench as Mrs Badenoch sharpens her attack on Andy Burnham
In a statement last night, Dame Priti said she would be taking on an 'international role' for the party to strengthen links with sister parties worldwide.
The former home secretary said returning to the back benches would also give her 'greater freedom to stand up' for her Witham and Essex constituency in the Commons.
She said: 'I'm pleased to continue supporting Kemi and the Conservative Party in a new role strengthening our relationships with fellow conservatives and centre-right parties around the world.
'At a time of profound global uncertainty, when our values and freedoms are under threat, conservatives must work more closely together.'
She said it had been 'an honour' to lead the party's foreign affairs team, citing challenges to the Government's Chagos Islands deal and calls for stronger action to protect the UK from threats posed by China, Iran and Russia.
Mr Tugendhat is seen as one of the most hawkish MPs on China and has campaigned against plans for the new super embassy in London.
In a statement last night, Dame Priti said she would be taking on an 'international role' for the party to strengthen links with sister parties worldwide
Dame Priti added: 'With Labour axing key transport schemes, cancelling plans for a new school, threatening to destroy our countryside, councils and communities and cutting policing, I will be a vocal champion for my constituents in the House of Commons defending their interests and demanding action.'
Sir James said Mrs Badenoch was 'very supportive' when he told her earlier this week of his plans to step down, though she would 'stay neutral' on the Tory selection process for a mayoral candidate.