Rishi Sunak has sacked Suella Braverman and turned to former Prime Minister David Cameron in an attempt to boost his flagging fortunes.
The Prime Minister has named Cameron, who quit Number 10 in 2016 after losing the Brexit referendum, as the new Foreign Secretary, replacing James Cleverly.
In turn, Cleverly has moved to Home Secretary, replacing his controversial predecessor Braverman, who has been sacked.
Braverman, a leading proponent of the ‘Stop The Boats’ campaign, prompted widespread anger in recent days with her comments on rough sleeping being a “lifestyle choice” and after she defied Number 10 by writing an article that criticised the Metropolitan Police’s handling of pro-Palestinian protests.
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.”
Cameron, who will take up a position in the House of Lords, recently criticised Sunak’s decision not to extend HS2, but today had warmer words for the PM.
“Though I may have disagreed with some individual decisions, it is clear to me that Rishi Sunak is a strong and capable Prime Minister, who is showing exemplary leadership at a difficult time,” he said.
Cameron sparked criticism in 2020 after trying to persuade ministers to allow collapsed finance company Greensill Capital - which employed him as an adviser - to join a scheme called the Corporate Covid Financing Facility.
This would have allowed the company to issue loans, insured by the government, to help firms through the pandemic.
However, Cameron - and the company's founder, Lex Greensill - were unsuccessful in their attempts.
A report from MPs accused Cameron of "a significant lack of judgement", although it said he did not break any rules.
Jeremy Hunt remains as Chancellor.