Rishi Sunak has embarked on a dramatic reshuffle of his frontbench, sacking Suella Braverman and installing David Cameron as Foreign Secretary.
While a reshuffle had long been expected, the return of the former prime minister came as a surprise. It has prompted questions about what Mr Sunak’s strategy is, as he prepares for a general election as soon as next year.
– Why has Rishi Sunak embarked on a reshuffle now?
A large-scale reshuffle had long been anticipated, with the expectation that Rishi Sunak, after just over a year in office, might want to refresh his frontbench team ahead of the next general election.
The controversy surrounding now ex-home secretary Suella Braverman over recent days had prompted speculation that a reshuffle could come sooner rather than later, and that Mr Sunak would want to sack her for her unauthorised article criticising the way pro-Palestinian protests had been policed.
Her decision to deploy the term “hate marches”, as well as inflammatory remarks suggesting rough sleeping was a “lifestyle choice”, had all caused headaches for the Prime Minister over the last week.
It was the latest in a string of controversies involving Mrs Braverman, a darling of the Tory right but whose rhetoric has repeatedly proved divisive.
Her appointment as Home Secretary when Mr Sunak entered office was widely seen as a reward for her support in last year’s second Tory leadership contest, as the PM and his allies sought to quieten any backbench opposition from his right-wing MPs.
Mr Sunak has clearly now decided that Mrs Braverman’s personal brand of politics are something he can live without.
The appointment of James Cleverly in the Home Office puts a reliable lieutenant in charge of the major department, which has responsibility for tackling small boats crossings in the Channel as well as a host of major security and policing responsibilities.
But it also means that Mr Sunak can put more of his own personal stamp on his administration, with Laura Trott and Victoria Atkins joining other key allies Claire Coutinho and Alex Chalk in key positions in his administration.
– What happens now Suella Braverman has been sacked?
It remains to be seen whether the sacking of Ms Braverman creates new problems for Mr Sunak. The Home Secretary said little upon news of her sacking, but promised she would have “more to say in due course”.
Senior Tories such as Lee Anderson have long been fans of Mrs Braverman, while she has staunch backers across right-wing parliamentary groupings including the Common Sense Group and the New Conservatives.
Prime ministers always fear that reshuffles will create enemies on the backbenches, so Mr Sunak and his allies will be watching to see whether Mrs Braverman goes quietly – or becomes a dangerous critic.
It is little secret that Mrs Braverman has leadership ambitions. It is as yet unclear whether a very public sacking, after days of difficult headlines, will help or hinder any future bid.
– Why bring back David Cameron and how will his return go down with voters?
On the face of it, the hugely surprising decision to bring back the former prime minister as Foreign Secretary sits uneasily with Mr Sunak’s bid to present himself as the change candidate at the next election.
Only a few weeks ago at the Tory conference in Manchester, Mr Sunak was attempting to position himself as a break with the past – despite the fact his party has been in power for the last 13 years.
A return for David Cameron – one of the key architects of austerity and whose bid to keep the UK in the EU backfired disastrously – makes that an even tougher sell to voters.
While Lord Cameron may retain the affection of some in the Tory heartlands, the party is dramatically different to the one he led to power in 2010, and not all the constituencies who backed the party in 2019 will have fond memories of his time in office.
Indeed, even some Tory MPs may feel uncomfortable with Mr Sunak bringing back a very vivid reminder of an era of swingeing cuts and Treasury penny pinching.
But on the other hand, it means that a highly experienced figure takes charge of foreign affairs at a time when the world is tackling multiple threats – from the conflict in Gaza to the war in Ukraine and tensions with China.
– Is Jeremy Hunt staying as Chancellor?
The fate of Jeremy Hunt, installed as Chancellor in the wake of Liz Truss’s disastrous mini-budget, has been long been a subject of speculation in Westminster.
His reluctance to contemplate tax cuts during a period of still-high inflation has drawn the ire of some Tory MPs, many of whom are nervous about losing their seats at the next election.
But with an Autumn Statement due in only a matter of days, it would have been a brave move to sack the Chancellor.
It means that Mr Hunt, who some believe will stand down before the next election, is safe in post for now.
– How will the party’s right react?
MPs on the right of the Conservative Party may be angered by the latest reshuffle, which will leave the senior ranks of Government peopled by more centrist figures. The reshuffle also sees the exit of Therese Coffey, a key ally of Liz Truss.
One prominent Truss ally has already signalled his displeasure. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sir Simon Clarke shared a post about Gareth Southgate’s decision not to include Raheem Sterling in his England squad.
He said: “Some controversial choices here from the manager, putting it very mildly.
“Never wise to lack options on the right wing – the squad risks being badly unbalanced.”
