David Cameron returns to British government

A familiar face has returned to Britain’s government. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reshuffled his cabinet on Monday, pushing Home Secretary Suella Braverman out and installing James Cleverly in her place. Cleverly, who had been serving as foreign secretary, is being replaced by none other than former Prime Minister David Cameron.

The surprise move comes just days after Braverman wrote an op-ed for The Times, in which she said the police “play favorites” and described rallies in support of Gaza as “pro-Palestinian mobs.” The column caused a backlash among Conservatives.

Cameron has not been in Parliament since standing down in 2016, but he has been granted a seat in the House of Lords, which allows him to take up the new position — one he says he “gladly accepted.”

Sunak is clearly trying to stabilize his government ahead of the next general election, due by January 2025, and we’ll be watching to see whether Cameron’s appointment helps the Conservatives, currently down in the polls, woo voters.