Three things we’ve learned from Sunak’s reshuffle so far
The reshuffle may have a long way to go, but we now have the three main offices of state finalised.
Chancellor
Was: Jeremy Hunt
Still is: Jeremy Hunt
Home secretary
Was: Suella Braverman
Now: James Cleverly
Foreign secretary
Was: James Cleverly
Now: David Cameron
There are three clear takeaways from this.
1) Sunak has gone for a blue wall reshuffle, not a red wall reshuffle. In recent days Suella Braverman’s supporters have been saying Sunak should keep her in post to appeal to the red wall voters who backed the Tories for the first time in 2019 who, it is assumed (not always correctly) liked Braverman’s hardline approach to law and order.
Cleverly will adopt a different approach as home secretary. While not exactly a liberal, he’s a pragmatist, not an ideologue or a zealot. The appointment will go down well with the moderate Tory supporters in so-called blue wall seats (Tory seats in the south vulnerable to the Lib Dems). Blue wall Tories may also welcome the return of David Cameron, because they were happy to vote for him in 2010 and 2015.
Sunak’s top team is also the least Brexity since Theresa May’s. Two of the four people in top jobs – Cameron and Hunt – campaigned for remain. Sunak and Cleverly both backed leave, but neither of them played a leading role in that campaign and neither of them are seen as hardline Brexiters.
2) Sunak seems to have realised that running as a “change” candidate at the next election is not really plausible. This was the line he tried in his Tory conference speech (see 9.49am), but it was never plausible at the time, and after today’s reshuffle one must assume it will be given a decent burial. Of the top four in Sunak’s team, two of them were in cabinet in 2010 (Cameron and Hunt).
3) Sunak has boosted Cleverly’s status as a candidate to replace him. Cleverly liked being foreign secretary, and may not be keen on going to the Home Office, famously a graveyard for political careers. But having experience in both those departments ought to help in a leadership contest. Braverman and Kemi Badenoch (among others) are both gearing to run as rightwingers. Cleverly may now be the leading candidate for MPs in the mainstream/centre – although having Sunak’s quasi-endorsement may not actually help him with the membership.
Key events
Rachel Maclean, a minister in the levelling up department, is being sacked, Harry Cole from the Sun reports.
NEW: Hear there is bit of a row brewing…
Sunak has sacked Rachel Maclean as Minister of State at Levelling Up but is getting some major blowback from Cabinet level supporters.
— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) November 13, 2023
The Liberal Democrats are embracing the idea that this is a blue wall reshuffle. (See 10.27am.) A party source told journalists:
This retro reshuffle shows the Conservatives are openly running scared of the Lib Dems in the blue wall.
Bringing back David Cameron just looks desperate. If the Tories think this will save them seats in their Southern Flank, they have got another thing coming.
Blue Wall voters abandoned this chaotic government some time ago and aren’t coming back in a hurry.
Steven Swinford from the Times asks if David Cameron will still be allowed to claim the £115,000 a year allowance paid to ex-PMs to fund their ongoing work in public life now he is back in government.
Will David Cameron continue to claim the allowance of £115,000 a year that he is entitled to as a former prime minister?
Will he be paid as foreign secretary?
Imagine there will have to be an accommodation…
— Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) November 13, 2023
And Swinford’s colleague Lara Spirit says a “reasonable” compromise has been reached – which implies he will keep some of it.
I’m told we can expect an announcement on this later — and that a “reasonable arrangement” on Cameron’s access to the allowance has been agreed https://t.co/jL8ktNn7ib
— Lara Spirit (@lara_spirit) November 13, 2023
Labour says reshuffle shows Sunak’s claim to be offering change is ‘laughable’
Labour HQ has only issued one statement so far on the reshuffle. This is from Pat McFadden, the party’s national campaign coordinator.
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.
This puts to bed the prime minister’s laughable claim to offer change from 13 years of Tory failure.
The New Conservatives, a newish group of socially conservative Tory MPs who are pushing for lower taxes and less immigration, is meeting this afternoon in the Commons, Sky’s Beth Rigby reports. Its two co-chairs, Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger, have been among Braverman’s strongest defenders. Rigby says their long-term plan to get Braverman elected as the next party leader will be discussed.
👀 Senior Conservative source tells me there is talk in parliament of a meeting of the New Conservatives group later today and agenda item is Suella leadership play.
— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) November 13, 2023
Been told that group meet every week and leadership “bid” not on agenda > Dancing on head of pin – bid & play slightly different. This surely the continuation of long campaign. Now Queen over the water, she can make her pitch without constraints of office https://t.co/RtsgRaMkIy
— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) November 13, 2023
Rees-Mogg claims sacking Braverman will make it harder for Tories to win next election
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former business secretary, has told GB News that sacking Suella Braverman was a mistake. He explained:
I think, from the point of view of the Conservatives winning the next election, today is a mistake because Suella understood what the British voter thought and was trying to do something about it.
He also suggested that appointing David Cameron foreign secretary could lead to some Conservative supporters backing Reform UK (the new version of the Brexit party) instead. He said:
David Cameron got the Brexit issue wrong in terms of the Conservative party and indeed the country at large who voted to leave but he did give us the choice to have the vote.
Without him we wouldn’t have had that referendum. He is a highly intelligent, capable individual. But will this potentially push some people to Reform is a question for the pollsters.
In his first comments to journalists as the new home secretary, James Cleverly has said he will focus on stopping the boats and keeping people safe. He said:
[As foreign secretary] I worked very closely with my colleagues in the Home Office, cracking down on illegal migration, reducing the number of small boats arrivals, and now as the home secretary I am absolutely committed to stopping the boats as we promised, but also making sure that everybody in the UK feels safe and secure going about their daily business knowing that the government is here to protect them.
Asked if he wanted to distance himself from some of the provocative language used by Braverman, Cleverly replied:
Well, I intend to do this job in the way I feel best protects the British people and our interests.
The SNP has joined Labour (see 10.46am) in attacking the appointment of David Cameron as the new foreign secretary. In a statement Mhairi Black, the party’s deputy leader at Westminster, said:
The fact that Rishi Sunak has had to resurrect David Cameron shows how tired this Tory government is. People in Scotland will be appalled that the architect of thirteen years of Tory austerity cuts, and the disastrous Brexit referendum, is back in government.
Journalists in Downing Street covering the reshuffle on Monday morning.
Lisa O’Carroll
David Cameron’s former stature on the international stage may mean that he will be a welcome presence in Brussels as the UK’s new foreign secretary.
Some politicians in the EU feel that leadership is lacking, with Emmanuel Macron filling the role of the de facto EU leader as Olaf Scholz is failing to have the same strong presence or to fill Angela Merkel’s boots on the international stage.
But in the immediate aftermath of the surprise news, Cameron is being remembered as the man who caused Brexit, something that still provokes anger here in Brussels.
“People remember him as the man who caused Brexit to save his own government. I think in European eyes he is so much discredited and no one will be keen to deal with him, which of course they will have to,” one senior source said.
Jesse Norman says he has resigned as transport minister
And Jesse Norman says he has chosen to leave the government. He was a minister of state at the Department for Transport.
Very grateful to the Prime Minister for accepting my resignation. Having laid the ZEV mandate and framed the Automated Vehicles Bill, this is the right time to step down. Looking forward to more freedom to campaign on the River #Wye and other crucial local and national issues!
Very grateful to the Prime Minister for accepting my resignation. Having laid the ZEV mandate and framed the Automated Vehicles Bill, this is the right time to step down. Looking forward to more freedom to campaign on the River #Wye and other crucial local and national issues! pic.twitter.com/gBPlusDF8K
— Jesse Norman (@Jesse_Norman) November 13, 2023
A reader asks:
How can Cameron just “take a seat in the lords”. I thought there was some sort of process?
There is a vetting process if people are proposed for a seat in the House of Lords in an honours list. But if a prime minister wants to put someone in the House of Lords so they can serve in government, the appointment gets made immediately. No 10 announced today:
His Majesty has also been pleased to confer the dignity of a barony of the United Kingdom for life upon David Cameron.
Will Quince says he is standing down as a health minister at his own request. He says he has already decided to leave the Commons at the next election and that he wants more time to focus on the training he is doing as a specialist reserve officer in the army.
I have asked the Prime Minister that I be allowed to step down from my role as Minister of State at @DHSCgovuk and he has kindly agreed. I would like to thank all of the brilliant civil servants with whom it has been an honour and privilege to serve. pic.twitter.com/cdYpoKztmS
— Will Quince MP 🇬🇧 (@willquince) November 13, 2023
Quince is MP for Colchester. He had a majority of 9,423 at the last election, but the seat was held by the Lib Dems until 2015.
A reader asks:
Will Andrew Mitchell become the House of Commons lead on foreign affairs?
Good question. We don’t know yet. He was the most senior minister in the Foreign Office after James Cleverly, and so he would be an obvious candidate for that role. But he is another Tory centrist who was in cabinet in 2010 and Rishi Sunak may feel the need to promote someone younger, and more acceptable to the Tory right.
A reader asks:
Presumably no one wants the poisoned chalice now, but what are the chances of 1922 letters going in from the Braverman rabid right faction? If she waits until after a GE defeat, that means 5 years in opposition, and little chance of unseating Labour in 2029, as either the Tories would lose, or she would have been ditched by then anyway. Is it worth a roll of the dice for her and her supporters? A coup with the chance of improved economic conditions late 2024 to maybe cling on?
I’m sure a few Braverman supporters might send letters to the 1922 Committee chair asking for a vote of no confidence in Rishi Sunak, but you need 53 to trigger a contest and Braverman’s hardcore support base is probably a lot smaller than that. Sunak will know the numbers better than me because he employs people to collect this intelligence; they’re called whips. If they thought sacking Braverman would trigger a leadership contest, she would still be in post.
Nick Robinson, the Today programme presenter and former BBC political editor, has been posting on X about the appointment of David Cameron as foreign secretary.
What is @David_Cameron likely to say on Israel strikes in Gaza? “Israel has the right to defend itself but we have consistently made clear our grave concerns about the heavy toll of civilian casualties & have called on Israel to exercise restraint. We have consistently called for…
— Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) November 13, 2023
Appointment of Cameron as foreign secretary ‘act of desperation’, says Labour
Labour has described the appointment of David Cameron as foreign secretary as a “last gasp act of desperation”. This is from David Lammy, Cameron’s shadow.
David Cameron was a disastrous PM. This is a last gasp act of desperation from a government devoid of talent and ideas.
Amid international crisis, Sunak has chosen an unelected failure from the past who MPs cannot even hold to account.
Only Labour offers the change we need
David Cameron was a disastrous PM. This is a last gasp act of desperation from a government devoid of talent and ideas.
Amid international crisis, Sunak has chosen an unelected failure from the past who MPs cannot even hold to account.
Only Labour offers the change we need.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) November 13, 2023
Cameron says as foreign secretary he wants to focus on supporting allies and strengthening partnerships
David Cameron has put a lengthy statement on X about his appointment as foreign secretary. Here is an extract in which he says supporting allies and strengthening partnerships will be a priority.
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 …
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.
In a reference to his comments on the scrapping of the Manchester leg of HS2 (see 9.49am), Cameron also praises Rishi Sunak as “a strong and capable prime minister, who is showing exemplary leadership”. He says:
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.
The Prime Minister has asked me to serve as his Foreign Secretary and I have gladly accepted.
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…
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) November 13, 2023
Three things we’ve learned from Sunak’s reshuffle so far
The reshuffle may have a long way to go, but we now have the three main offices of state finalised.
Chancellor
Was: Jeremy Hunt
Still is: Jeremy Hunt
Home secretary
Was: Suella Braverman
Now: James Cleverly
Foreign secretary
Was: James Cleverly
Now: David Cameron
There are three clear takeaways from this.
1) Sunak has gone for a blue wall reshuffle, not a red wall reshuffle. In recent days Suella Braverman’s supporters have been saying Sunak should keep her in post to appeal to the red wall voters who backed the Tories for the first time in 2019 who, it is assumed (not always correctly) liked Braverman’s hardline approach to law and order.
Cleverly will adopt a different approach as home secretary. While not exactly a liberal, he’s a pragmatist, not an ideologue or a zealot. The appointment will go down well with the moderate Tory supporters in so-called blue wall seats (Tory seats in the south vulnerable to the Lib Dems). Blue wall Tories may also welcome the return of David Cameron, because they were happy to vote for him in 2010 and 2015.
Sunak’s top team is also the least Brexity since Theresa May’s. Two of the four people in top jobs – Cameron and Hunt – campaigned for remain. Sunak and Cleverly both backed leave, but neither of them played a leading role in that campaign and neither of them are seen as hardline Brexiters.
2) Sunak seems to have realised that running as a “change” candidate at the next election is not really plausible. This was the line he tried in his Tory conference speech (see 9.49am), but it was never plausible at the time, and after today’s reshuffle one must assume it will be given a decent burial. Of the top four in Sunak’s team, two of them were in cabinet in 2010 (Cameron and Hunt).
3) Sunak has boosted Cleverly’s status as a candidate to replace him. Cleverly liked being foreign secretary, and may not be keen on going to the Home Office, famously a graveyard for political careers. But having experience in both those departments ought to help in a leadership contest. Braverman and Kemi Badenoch (among others) are both gearing to run as rightwingers. Cleverly may now be the leading candidate for MPs in the mainstream/centre – although having Sunak’s quasi-endorsement may not actually help him with the membership.
