Rishi Sunak told his party more than a year ago that it was time to “unite or die” by focusing on “policies, not personalities.” This week, he concluded that Suella Braverman, who has been making a lot of noise on immigration, homelessness, and left-wing police forces, does not fit this bill.
But her sacking—and replacement with Tory party mouthpiece James Cleverly—forms just one part of yesterday’s cabinet reshuffle. Another, perhaps more notable aspect, is the return of former Prime Minister David Cameron, commentary on which will follow.
Cameron is not the only Cameronista in this ‘new’ cabinet, which has also seen the promotion of Laura Trott, who once called the former prime minister her boss. So too did old-hand Oliver Dowden and the promoted Richard Holden. It is worth noting that Jeremy Hunt, who has held his post as chancellor, also served as health secretary during Cameron’s premiership.
Steve Barclay has been demoted from health to environment secretary, replacing Thérèse Coffey, a known ally of another, less-favourable prime minister, Liz Truss. And to fill Barclay’s former boots, Sunak has turned to the loyalist of … Sunak, Victoria Atkins. The same can be said of John Glen, who has been moved to the role of paymaster general.
These moves will likely create a good amount of unity within the cabinet, though not so much in the party as a whole. One Tory MP has already submitted a (terribly written) letter of no confidence against Sunak.
In what comes across as a token attempt to please the more right-wing branch of the party, GB News presenter Esther McVey has been welcomed into the top team and will apparently act as a “common sense tsar,” whatever that means. Andrea Leadsom, who is likewise considered to be more on the Right than many of her liberal colleagues, is also back after three years out of government.
While partly controversial at this time, Sunak’s new cabinet is expected to produce fewer gaffes in the long run. It is yet to be seen how this responds to talk that is already circulating about getting the likes of Braverman back into power.
