David Cameron appointed foreign secretary of Britain in stunning cabinet reshuffle

Former British Prime Minister David Cameron has been given the top job of foreign secretary in shock cabinet reshuffle.

David Cameron with fellow former PM Theresa May during a Remembrance Sunday service this past weekend. Picture: Toby Melville/Getty Images

The former prime minister of Britain, David Cameron, has been appointed the country’s next foreign secretary as part of an explosive cabinet reshuffle.

Current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sacked his Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, on Monday morning, local time, after a controversial week in which she called homelessness a “lifestyle choice” and labelled pro-Palestinian protests “hate marches”.

James Cleverly, who started the day as Britain’s foreign secretary, was seen entering Downing Street shortly afterwards, with top political observers suggesting he would be named as Ms Braverman’s replacement in the Home Office – the equivalent of Australia’s Home Affairs ministry. That was confirmed a short time later.

But the real shock came as a car pulled into Downing Street and Mr Cameron, who was prime minister from 2010-2016, emerged, walking calmly in front of the cameras before entering Mr Sunak’s residence. He was later confirmed as the new foreign secretary.

“The King has been pleased to approve the appointment of the Rt Hon David Cameron as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs,” Mr Sunak’s office said in a statement.

“His Majesty has also been pleased to confer the dignity of a Barony of the United Kingdom for life upon David Cameron.”

David Cameron when he was the outgoing prime minister in 2016. Picture: Justin Tallis/AFP

As Mr Cameron is no longer an MP, it was necessary for him to be appointed to the House of Lords before he could take up the foreign affairs portfolio.

Mr Cameron himself released a lengthy statement after his appointment.

“The Prime Minister has asked me to serve as his foreign secertary and I have gladly accepted,” Mr Cameron 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.

“While I have been out of frontline politics for the last seven years, I hope that my experience – as Conservative leader for 11 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.

“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. I want to help him to deliver the security and prosperity our country needs and be part of the strongest possible team that serves the United Kingdom and that can be presented to the country when the general election is held.

“I believe in public service. That is what first motivated me to get involved in politics in the 1980s, to work in government in the 1990s, become an MP in the 2000s and put myself forward as party leader and prime minister.

“The UK’s Foreign Office, our Diplomatic Service, our Intelligence Services and our Aid and Development capabilities are some of the finest assets of their kind anywhere in the world. I know from my time in office that they are staffed by brilliant, patriotic and hard-working people. They have been well led by James Cleverly, with whom I look forward to working in his vital new role.

“It will be an honour to serve our country alongside our dedicated FCDO staff and provide the continued leadership and support that they deserve.”

David Cameron among a line of former prime ministers at Sunday’s Remembrance ceremony. Picture: Toby Melville/Getty Images

The catalyst for the reshuffle was Ms Braverman’s exit as home secretary, having invited political controversy and challenged Mr Sunak’s authority.

The Prime Minister faced mounting calls to sack Ms Braverman after she suggested London’s Metropolitan Police were “playing favourites” with protesters by going soft on “leftist” mobs, such as those supporting Black Lives Matter and the Palestinians, and cracking down on white nationalists and anti-Covid lockdown demonstrators.

In recent days, Downing Street insisted it had full confidence in Ms Braverman, but said it was investigating how her comments in an opinion piece, published by The Times, were published without its consent, as required by the ministerial code.

“The content was not agreed with Number 10,” a spokesman for Mr Sunak told reporters, referring to the Prime Minister’s Downing Street office.

According to people familiar with the matter, the article was sent to Mr Sunak’s office, which requested changes that were not subsequently made.

Ms Braverman’s words heightened speculation that she was positioning herself for a future Tory leadership contest.

Following her dismissal, MS Braverman said “it has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve as home secretary”.

But she warned ominously: “I will have more to say in due course.”

Cameron was instrumental in leading western countries’ intervention in Libya in 2011, which helped overthrow dictator Muamar Khadhafi but was seen as aiding the North African country’s descent into political and economic collapse.

In 2013 he became the first prime minister in over 150 years to lose a parliamentary vote on military action when MPs failed to back his plan for strikes on Syria following a chemical attack by Damascus.

Cameron became mired in scandal in 2021, after lobbying the UK government for finance group Greensill Capital, which later collapsed.

He and Sunak have also clashed publicly on big issues. Last year, Sunak suggested that a “golden era” of warm relations between Britain and China during Cameron’s 2010-2016 tenure had been “naive”.

And Cameron recently slammed Sunak’s decision to scrap a key part of a high-speed rail project.

Polling in September suggested 45 percent of UK adults felt unfavourably towards Cameron, while only around a quarter held a favourable view.

- with AFP