Former UK prime minister David Cameron made a surprise return to frontline politics Monday after British leader Rishi Sunak appointed him foreign secretary in a government reshuffle.
Cameron, who was Britain’s leader from 2010 to 2016 before quitting after losing the Brexit referendum, replaces James Cleverly — who was appointed interior minister — in an unexpected move.
He replaced her with James Cleverly, who had been foreign secretary, before announcing Cameron as Cleverly’s surprise replacement.
Cameron, 57, quit as prime minister in 2016 after losing the Brexit referendum. He stood down as an MP the same year.
He became mired in scandal in 2021, after lobbying the UK government for finance group Greensill Capital, which later collapsed and the episode was seen as badly tarnishing his reputation.
Cameron will be made a life peer in the House of Lords, Britain’s upper chamber of parliament, Downing Street announced, meaning that he can sit in government.
The former leader said he “gladly accepted” the role as Britain faced “a daunting set of international challenges”.
“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,” Cameron added.
Following her dismissal, Braverman said “it has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve as home secretary”.
“I will have more to say in due course,” she added.
The changes are part of Sunak’s first major reshuffle of his top ministers since becoming the country’s leader in October last year.
