The Conservative party re-shuffled its cabinet on Monday, seeing Home Secretary Suella
Braverman fired and former PM David Cameron return to politics
Suella Braverman was sacked from her role as Home Secretary with foreign secretary James
Cleverly replacing her.
Braverman’s sacking comes in the wake of controversy surrounding the home secretary’s
comments on policing and Pro-Palestine protests.
In a recent article in The Times, Braverman accused the Metropolitan Police of “double
standards,” claiming that Pro-Palestine protestors were treated more leniently than right-wing
and nationalist demonstrators.
The statement was not cleared by No. 10 Downing Street and prompted critics to call for her
resignation.
First Minster Humza Yousaf took to X, formerly Twitter, saying, “Never has someone been so
unfit for public office as Suella Braverman.”
“At a time when we need those in Government to bring communities together, she revelled in
fanning the flames of division.”
Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said on Friday that Braverman’s comments “are not
words that I myself would have used.”
James Cleverly announced that his first priorities as Home Secretary would be keeping the UK
safe and “stopping the boats” of migrants from arriving.
In a surprise move, David Cameron returned to politics to fill Cleverly’s seat as foreign secretary.
Cameron last held office in 2016 after spearheading Brexit.
As he is no longer an elected politician, Cameron has been offered a seat in the House of Lords
as a life peer, allowing him to fill the role of foreign secretary.
Cameron stated that he did not agree with all the decisions made by Sunak’s administration, but
that he recognized his new boss as a “strong and capable Prime Minister, who is showing
exemplary leadership at a difficult time.”
Former Prime Minister Theresa May congratulated Cameron on his return to the political
frontline, saying “His immense experience on the international stage will be invaluable at this
time of great uncertainty in our world.”
In his first statement as foreign secretary, Cameron described resigning from all his business
and charitable roles, committing to his “one job” on the cabinet to protect the UK from a
“difficult and dangerous world.
The move has brought strong criticism from Labour and SNP who reject Cameron’s return to
office.
SNP’s Westminster deputy leader, Mhairi Black said Cameron’s appointment “shows how tired
this Tory government is.”
The reshuffle also saw several ministers step down from roles.
Transport minister Jesse Norman, paymaster general Jeremy Quin, science minister George
Freeman, and schools minister Nick Gibb all resigned.
Gibb, who held his seat in parliament for 26 years and was school minister for 10, stepped down
amidst what he called “growing cynicism and hostility” towards politicians.
Also resigning was environment secretary Therese Coffey. She will be replaced by Steve Barclay,
who was demoted from his position as health secretary.
Barclay will be replaced by Victoria Atkins, formerly the financial secretary to the Treasury. She
takes up the position amidst negotiations with the British Medical Association over junior
doctor strikes.
Housing minister Rachel Maclean was asked to step down, saying she was “disappointed” to
leave the role.
The Conservative Party announced the shuffle this morning, saying that it “strengthens [the
Prime Minister’s] team to deliver long-term decisions for a brighter future.”
“10 Downing Street” by Defence Images is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.