UK Premier Sunak Dismisses Home Secretary, Appoints Ex-PM Cameron in Surprising Turn

In a significant reshuffle, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak removed Suella Braverman from her role as Home Secretary on Monday. Braverman, known for her contentious stances, recently came under fire for her critical remarks about the police’s approach towards pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

The official announcement revealed that Braverman’s departure was part of Sunak’s broader cabinet restructuring. James Cleverly, previously the Foreign Secretary, succeeded her.

In an unexpected decision, David Cameron, the former Prime Minister, has been assigned the role of Foreign Secretary. This appointment of a past leader, especially one who is not a current lawmaker, to a high-ranking position is a rare occurrence. Cameron is set to be inducted into the House of Lords, an unelected segment of Parliament.

Braverman acknowledged her tenure as a home secretary as a significant honor and hinted at future statements regarding her exit.

Braverman’s dismissal follows increased scrutiny, primarily due to her staunch views that resonate with the Conservative Party’s authoritarian segment. As Home Secretary, she was in charge of pivotal departments, including immigration and law enforcement.

Recently, Braverman faced backlash for her outspoken criticism of the London police. She accused them of biased leniency towards pro-Palestinian groups and Black Lives Matter activists, contrasting this with their treatment of right-wing groups and football hooligans. These remarks, published in the Times of London, were notably not pre-approved by the Prime Minister’s office.

Braverman, 43, a lawyer by profession, has emerged as a prominent figure in the party’s populist faction. She has advocated for stringent immigration controls, a challenge to human rights norms, liberal societal values, and what she terms the “tofu-eating wokerati.”

Her recent description of immigration as a “hurricane” threatening to bring “millions more immigrants” to the UK has been a part of her vocal campaign. She has been a key proponent of the government’s controversial plan to relocate asylum-seekers arriving by boat to Rwanda, a policy currently under the scrutiny of the UK Supreme Court.

There is speculation that Braverman’s heightened public persona is a strategic move in anticipation of a possible leadership bid, especially if the Conservatives face defeat in the upcoming elections. Current polls show the party trailing the opposition Labour Party by a significant margin.

The original report has been amended to correct the date of the recent clashes to Saturday.

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• BBC News: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reshuffles his cabinet
• The Guardian: Suella Braverman sacked as home secretary in cabinet reshuffle
• Reuters: UK PM Sunak fires Home Secretary Braverman, names Cameron foreign secretary
• Sky News: Suella Braverman sacked as home secretary by Rishi Sunak
• The Times: Suella Braverman: There will be ‘no sudden stop’ in mass migration
• The Telegraph: Suella Braverman accuses police of bias towards BLM and pro-Palestinian protests
• The Independent: Suella Braverman’s comments risk inflaming tensions