Cameron back in the fold as Rishi stakes all on reshuffle

I’ll have more to say, vows axed Suella |  Ex-PM is Foreign Secretary in the Lords | But Sunak risks wrath of the Tory Right

- Nicholas Cecil and Jitendra Joshi

RISHI SUNAK stunned Westminster today by appointing David Cameron Foreign Secretary as he sacked Suella Braverman in a big-gamble reshuffle which risked sparking a Tory civil war.

The Prime Minister dismissed Mrs Braverman as Home Secretary after she was accused of stoking community tensions by alleging that the Metropolitan Police was biased in the way it dealt with protests ahead of the pro-Gaza march in London on Armistice Day.

Then, in a move at the far end of the political Richter scale, he made Mr Cameron — who agreed the referendum which led to Brexit — a peer and brought him back into government.

James Cleverly replaced Mrs Braverman as Home Secretary, moving from the Foreign Office, in a reshuffle which sent shock waves through Westminster.

Shortly after his appointment, Mr Cameron said: “We are facing a daunting set of international challenges, including the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East. While I have been out of front line politics for the last seven years, I hope that my experience — as Conservative leader for 11 years and Prime Minister for six — will assist me in helping the Prime Minister to meet these vital challenges.”

However, his appointment is likely to prove controversial, especially given his role in the Greensill scandal, even though he was cleared of breaking lobbying rules.

It could also rile Brexiteer MPs given that he campaigned strongly for Remain. There are now no women in any of the four great offices of state, Prime Minister, Chancellor, Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary.