UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the reshuffling of his Cabinet on Monday, November 13 — and the most surprising name in the new list is David Cameron, a former British PM. Cameron is back in the Cabinet as secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs. He has replaced James Cleverly, who in turn has been given the job of the just-sacked Suella Braverman.
Cameron served as prime minister for six years from 2010 to 2016 and led his Conservative Party from 2005 to 2016. He presided over Britain’s controversial Brexit vote, which ultimately led to his exit from the UK's topmost political post. For his return to politics, Cameron said he has accepted a peerage.
"While I have been out of front-line politics for the last seven years, I hope that my experience — as Conservative leader for 11 years and prime minister for six — will assist me in helping the prime minister," he said in his first comments after his appointment.
The former UK PM was always keen on returning to frontline politics, preferably as foreign secretary, The Guardian reported. UK political experts see Cameron’s return as an effort by PM Sunak to unite his government.
"I believe in public service. That is what first motivated me to get involved in politics in the 1980s, to work in government in the 1990s, become a Member of Parliament in the 2000s and put myself forward as Party Leader and Prime Minister," he said in a post on X.
After his appointment, Cameron listed out his list of foreign policy challenges.
“We are facing a daunting set of international challenges, including the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East. At this time of profound global change, it has rarely been more important for this country to stand by our allies, strengthen our partnerships and make sure our voice is heard,” David Cameron said.
Interior minister Suella Braverman was sacked and been replaced by James Cleverly, the former foreign secretary. Braverman has now been sacked from the British Cabinet by two consecutive PMs, the first time by Liz Truss.
She was sacked by Sunak after publishing an inflammatory article in The Times, attacking the police’s handling of a pro-Palestinian march. Sunak was under pressure from his government and party colleagues to take a decision, local media has reported.
"It has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve as home secretary. I will have more to say in due course," she said.
This latest decision to remove Braverman comes just 13 months after she was forced to resign from the same job by former PM Liz Truss. The reason cited then was a technical security breach after she used her personal email to send information relating to government business.
