Former Prime Minister David Cameron has been appointed U.K. foreign secretary, in an unusual return to high office for an ex-leader.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced he was bringing Cameron back to frontline politics as foreign minister on Monday, in a surprise move rarely seen in modern British political history.
Cameron wrote that he “gladly accepted” Sunak’s offer to become foreign secretary, but acknowledged criticisms he has made of the premier- such as when Sunak scrapped a long-awaited and expensive high speed rail project that Cameron had championed.
“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,” Cameron said.
His return to Cabinet is a stunning twist in a stellar political career that appeared to have ended suddenly seven years ago when Britain voted to leave the European Union in a referendum. Mr. Cameron stepped down after unsuccessfully campaigning to remain in the EU.
Earlier, Sunak fired Home Secretary Suella Braverman over her confrontational rhetoric towards migrants, protesters, the police and even the homeless which caused rifts in the government.
Downing Street confirmed that James Cleverly, formerly the foreign secretary, will take over from Braverman, a shift that made Cameron’s return to Cabinet possible.
Sunak has apparently gambled that bringing Cameron back would project a stability that has been lacking from his government.
Cameron resigned as an MP shortly after leaving Downing Street and King Charles was required to rapidly approve his ascension to the House of Lords on Monday in order for him to become a minister.
Monday’s move can only be compared to Alec Douglas-Home – prime minister for a year from 1963 – who returned as foreign secretary in 1970 under Edward Heath’s government.
