Former UK Prime Minister, David Cameron has been appointed as the next Foreign Secretary and will take a seat in the House of Lords to enable him to take up the post.
This came as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak carried out a ministerial reshuffle meant to strengthen “his team in government to deliver long-term decisions for a brighter future.”
It is a remarkable return to government for the former Conservative Prime Minister, who was in office between 2010 and 2016.
No former Prime Minister has taken a cabinet job for more than 50 years, but the last one to do it was Alec Douglas-Home, who was appointed foreign secretary by Edward Heath in 1970, six years after he lost a general election.
Downing Street confirmed that Jeremy Hunt is staying as Chancellor.
In addition to Cameron, Downing Street confirmed that James Cleverly, who was the Foreign Secretary, as the new Home Secretary.
Cleverly replaces Suella Braverman, who was asked to leave the job earlier on Monday by Sunak.
In a statement released after her sacking, Braverman said, “It has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve as home secretary … I will have more to say in due course.”
As well as Braverman being sacked, a number of Ministers also left government.
Nick Gibb, who has been a Minister in the Department for Education for much of the past decade, announced that he was standing down.
Neil O’Brien also said that he had asked to return to the backbenches from his role as a junior minister in the Department for Health and Social Care “to focus 100% on constituency work.”
Jesse Norman stated that he has resigned as Transport Minister.
“Very grateful to the Prime Minister for accepting my resignation. Having laid the ZEV mandate and framed the Automated Vehicles Bill, this is the right time to step down,” he posted on X.
Following his appointment, Cameron issued a statement on X, saying that supporting allies and strengthening partnerships will be a priority.
“The Prime Minister has asked me to serve as his Foreign Secretary and I have gladly accepted,” the post read.
He said, “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 …
“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.”
David Cameron
Cameron also acknowledged that though he may have disagreed with some individual decisions, it is clear to him that “Rishi Sunak is a strong and capable Prime Minister, who is showing exemplary leadership at a difficult time.”
Cameron’s Appointment Criticised
The Labour party was not so pleased by appointment of David Cameron as Foreign Secretary.
David Lammy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, noted on X that David Cameron “was a disastrous PM,” stating, “This is a last gasp act of desperation from a government devoid of talent and ideas.”
“Amid international crisis, Sunak has chosen an unelected failure from the past who MPs cannot even hold to account,” he said.
“Only Labour offers the change we need,” he emphasized.
Labour Party’s National Campaign Coordinator, Pat McFadden, said, “A few weeks ago, Rishi Sunak said David Cameron was part of a failed status quo, now he’s bringing him back as his life raft.”
McFadden added, “This puts to bed the Prime Minister’s laughable claim to offer change from 13 years of Tory failure.”
The SNP joined Labour in attacking the appointment of David Cameron as the new Foreign Secretary.
In a statement, Mhairi Black, the party’s Deputy Leader at Westminster, said, “The fact that Rishi Sunak has had to resurrect David Cameron shows how tired this Tory government is.”
Black iterated, “People in Scotland will be appalled that the architect of thirteen years of Tory austerity cuts, and the disastrous Brexit referendum, is back in government.”
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