Mid Sussex Tory MP Nicholas Soames is back in frontline politics after being appointed shadow defence secretary.

But there is no job for Horsham MP Francis Maude in new Conservative leader Michael Howard's frontbench team.

Mr Maude had been widely tipped to land a senior post in the shadow cabinet.

He was one of the first MPs to publicly call for the vote of confidence which led to Iain Duncan Smith's resignation last month.

Mr Soames, grandson of Winston Churchill, was delighted to land a senior post as the shadow to Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon.

He will use the experience gained as an Armed Forces minister in the last Tory government. He will be pitched into battle opposite Hove Labour MP Ivor Caplin, a junior defence minister.

But unlike previous shadow defence secretaries, he will not sit in the shadow cabinet.

Mr Howard has slimmed the group down to just 12 MPs. Mr Soames will work under Michael Ancram, who takes overall responsibility for international development, foreign affairs and defence.

Arundel and South Downs MP Howard Flight keeps the post of shadow chief secretary to the treasury. His boss will be Oliver Letwin, the new shadow chancellor.

Chichester MP Andrew Tyrie, a leading moderniser, also joins the party's economic affairs team.

East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton, formerly shadow health minister, was handed a post in a new joint health and education team led by Tim Yeo.

Wealden MP Charles Hendry, formerly young person's spokesman, becomes a deputy chairman.

Mr Soames said: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to work again with the Armed Forces - the best in the world.

"I consider it a great honour to be given this great position of trust."

In other moves, former party chairman Theresa May remains in the shadow cabinet with the environment and transport portfolios.

David Curry is shadow secretary for local government and devolved affairs.

Mr Howard also confirmed Liam Fox and Lord Saatchi as joint party chairmen, reinstated David Maclean as chief whip in the Commons.

He asked David Willetts into the shadow cabinet as head of policy co-ordination.

Mr Howard said: "This shadow team is a radical departure from past practice.

"The role of opposition is very different from the role of Government. There is therefore no reason for the opposition to mirror the structure of Government."