David Cameron Appointed Foreign Secretary as Suella Braverman sacked
Suella Braverman. (Source: Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street)
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has appointed former PM David Cameron as the country’s new foreign secretary, as part of a reshuffle following the sacking of Suella Braverman as home secretary.
In an op-ed published in The Times on Thursday 2 November, Braverman suggested that the police’s handling of pro-palestinian protests – which she deemed “hate marches” – was more lenient than the handling of right-wing protesters. The article, which has no prior approval by Downing Street, quickly became a political case. When right-wing protesters clashed with police at the Cenotaph on Saturday as they attempted to confront pro-palestinian protesters, her critics accused her of having “inflamed tensions”.
Braverman is not new to rows and controversial statements, and Sunak had so far resisted all calls to sack her. Following days of fierce criticism from the opposition as well as in-fighting within the Conservative Party, however, her position became untenable.
“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve as home secretary,” Braverman said following her dismissal on Monday. “I will have more to say in due course.”
With her sacking triggering a cabinet reshuffle, she has now been replaced as home secretary by former foreign secretary James Cleverly.
The Surprise Comeback of David Cameron
If Braverman’s dismissal did not come as a huge surprise, few could have predicted David Cameron as Cleverly’s replacement for the seat of foreign secretary. Cameron, who served as the UK’s PM from 2010 to 2016, resigned from office the day after the Brexit referendum. He had not returned to front-line politics since.
In a statement, he said, “The Prime Minister has asked me to serve as his Foreign Secretary and I have gladly accepted. 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.”
He added, “While I have been out of front-line politics for the last seven years, I hope that my experience – as Conservative Leader for eleven years and Prime Minister for six – will assist me in helping the Prime Minister to meet these vital challenges. Britain is a truly international country.
“Our people live all over the world and our businesses trade in every corner of the globe. Working to help ensure stability and security on the global stage is both essential and squarely in our national interest. International security is vital for our domestic security.”
While David Cameron is no longer an elected member of parliament, King Charles has approved giving him a seat in the House of Lords, allowing him to return to government as a minister.
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