Sunak appoints ex-PM Cameron, Cleverly as foreign secretary, minister

British Minister, Rishi Sunak, has appointed James Cleverly, who had been Foreign Minister, as the new Interior Minister.

This followed the sack of controversial Interior Minister, Suella Braverman.

Cleverly, after his new appointment, left Downing Street in London, on Monday.

The permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office was seen entering Downing Street on Monday.

Sir Philip Barton walked inside No. 10 shortly Health minister Neil O’Brien announced that he is stepping down.

One of the responsibilities O’Brien had in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) was for tobacco and addiction.

He was due to play a key role in delivering Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s effective ban on smoking and vaping in the younger generation.

Tweeting a picture of a child’s arts-and-crafts style sheep, the Harborough MP wrote: “It’s been a privilege to serve at DHSC.

“Great ministerial team and spads (special advisers) and some fab officials.

READ ALSO: Sunak sacks UK minister Braverman

“But with so much going on locally, I want to focus 100 per cent on constituency work so have asked to go to back benches.

“I am also keen to see more of our two small children (artwork attached).”

Meanwhile, Sunak has appointed former Prime Minister, David Cameron, as the UK Foreign Secretary.

Cameron was named the country’s new foreign secretary on Monday in a surprise appointment by Sunak as he reshuffled his top team.

It was the latest reset for a Prime Minister whose party has trailed the main Labour opposition by double-digit margins throughout his time in power and is widely tipped to lose the next election slated for sometime next year.

Cameron’s return to government suggests Sunak wants to bring in more centrist, experienced hands rather than appease the right flank of his party that supported Braverman.

His unexpected return to the front line of British politics comes after he spent the last seven years writing his memoirs and pursuing business interests, including in Greensill Capital, a finance firm that later collapsed.

It is rare for a non-lawmaker to take a senior government post, and it has been decades since a former prime minister held a cabinet job.

The move also marks the return to government of a leader brought down by Britain’s decision to leave the European Union – Cameron called the 2016 Brexit referendum, confident the country would vote to stay in the bloc.

He resigned the day after voters opted to leave.

The Star