Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been sacked following her defiance of No 10 regarding an article where she accused the Metropolitan Police of bias in protest policing. Braverman’s dismissal has spurred a significant cabinet reshuffle by Rishi Sunak as he readies his top team for the upcoming Autumn Statement.
This is the second time Braverman was sacked from her position as home secretary. Previously forced to resign during her tenure under Mrs. Truss as home secretary, her departure stemmed from the revelation of sharing confidential cabinet papers with longstanding ally Tory MP Sir John Hayes.
The reinstatement of Mrs. Braverman as home secretary under Rishi Sunak came as a surprising political move. While serving under his administration, she cultivated a reputation as a right-wing figure within Mr. Sunak’s government, frequently making headlines with her remarks.
David Cameron takes up the role of foreign secretary
Amidst this shuffle, former Prime Minister David Cameron unexpectedly takes up the role of foreign secretary, succeeding James Cleverly, who has been announced as Braverman’s replacement.
Cameron, out of Parliament since his tenure as prime minister ended in 2016, receives a seat in the House of Lords to facilitate his new position.
The Liberal Democrats are opposing Lord Cameron’s peerage, citing his involvement in lobbying for collapsed finance company Greensill Capital.
Regarding Lord Cameron’s appointment, Senior Labour MP Pat McFadden, says it “puts to bed the prime minister’s laughable claim to offer change from 13 years of Tory failure”.
“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.
Lord Cameron, however, expresses his eagerness to “part of the strongest possible team that serves the United Kingdom” in the upcoming general election. “Though I may have disagreed with some individual decisions, it is clear to me that Rishi Sunak is a strong and capable prime minister, who is showing exemplary leadership at a difficult time,” he said.
James Cleverly replaces Suella Braverman as Home Secretary
In July, Cleverly joked about being reluctant to leave his foreign secretary position, saying he would have to be dragged out “with nail marks down the parquet flooring”. But on Monday, he acknowledged serving as foreign secretary has been a “huge privilege” and being home secretary was also a “fantastic job”. He refrains from commenting on his association with Braverman’s tenure. “I intend to do this job in the way that I feel best protects the British people and our interests,” he said.
Braverman suggests future friction for the leadership
Since her appointment as home secretary under former PM Liz Truss, Braverman has represented the right wing within the Conservative party. In a statement, Braverman hints at future remarks, suggesting potential friction for the leadership. “I will have more to say in due course,” she said.
Braverman’s removal follows controversy ignited by her article accusing the police of employing a “double standard” in managing right-wing demonstrations, against a Downing Street request to moderate her tone.
Opposition parties and some Tory MPs called for Braverman’s dismissal, citing her actions as detrimental and aggravating tensions for the police. Yvette Cooper said she was “highly irresponsible”.
Supporters, like Conservative MP Laurence Robertson, acknowledge Braverman’s talent but critique her strategic missteps. Expressing regret over her dismissal, Conservative MP Laurence Robertson, representing Tewkesbury, described it as a “wasted talent”, saying, “I wouldn’t have used the language she used. She is someone of ability and drive, but has played her hand badly.”
Speculations arose that she served as a “politically useful pressure valve” for Mr Sunak, allowing indirect endorsement of right-wing populist policies without the need to make those statements himself.
But that seems to have ended with the resurgence of Lord Cameron, known for leading a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats – reinforcing the liberal wing within the Conservatives.
Four junior ministers announce resignation
As Mr. Sunak’s reshuffle progresses, four junior ministers have declared their resignation from governmental roles. Nick Gibb, a long-serving Schools Minister, announced his resignation and intention to step down as an MP in the upcoming election. Similarly, Neil O’Brien confirmed his departure from the health ministry. Will Quince also resigned from the Department of Health and Social Care, and Jesse Norman has stepped away from his responsibilities as a transport minister.
Final thought
There’s widespread speculation that the Prime Minister’s reluctance to remove Braverman stemmed from fears of upsetting other MPs, potentially causing a delay in necessary action. The departure of four junior ministers suggests underlying discontent, marking a shift in the political dynamics. While the delayed dismissal could be for maintaining party unity, this hesitation might have inadvertently prolonged internal strains within the government.
