In British Politics, One Major Firing and One Surprise Return

Ex-PM David Cameron joins Cabinet, and divisive Home Secretary Suella Braverman is out
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 13, 2023 6:49 AM CST
British Politics Stunner: One Big Firing, One Surprise Return
Britain's former prime minister David Cameron leaves Downing Street, in London, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. He has joined the Cabinet of Rishi Sunak in an unusual move.   (James Manning/PA via AP)

Former British Prime Minister David Cameron made a shock return to high office on Monday, becoming foreign secretary in a major shakeup of the Conservative government. Cameron, who led the UK government between 2010 and 2016, was appointed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a Cabinet shuffle that also saw him fire Home Secretary Suella Braverman, a divisive figure who drew anger for accusing police of being too lenient with pro-Palestinian protesters, per the AP. She was replaced by James Cleverly, who had been foreign secretary. Cameron's appointment came as a surprise to seasoned politics-watchers. It's rare for a non-lawmaker to take a senior government post, and it has been decades since a former prime minister held a Cabinet job.

Sunak had been under growing pressure to fire Braverman—a hardliner popular with the authoritarian wing of the governing Conservative Party—from one of the most senior jobs in government, responsible for handling immigration and policing. In a highly unusual attack on the police last week, Braverman said London's police force was ignoring lawbreaking by "pro-Palestinian mobs." She described demonstrators calling for a ceasefire in Gaza as "hate marchers." On Saturday, far-right protesters scuffled with police and tried to confront a large pro-Palestinian march by hundreds of thousands through the streets of London. Critics accused Braverman of helping to inflame tensions.

Braverman, a 43-year-old lawyer, has become a leader of the party's populist wing by advocating ever-tougher curbs on migration and a war on human rights protections, liberal social values, and what she has called the "tofu-eating wokerati." As for Cameron, his appointment brings back to government a leader brought down by Britain's decision to leave the European Union. Cameron called the 2016 EU membership referendum, confident the country would vote to stay in the bloc. He resigned the day after voters opted to leave.

(More David Cameron stories.)

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