Sunak appoints ex-PM David Cameron foreign secretary in UK cabinet reshuffle

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak appointed former PM David Cameron to take over the
UK's foreign policy dossier during a cabinet reshuffle on Monday, Sunak's first
government shakeup since entering office in October 2022. He also sacked controversial
interior minister Suella Braverman, replacing her with foreign minister James Cleverly.
Britain's former premier David Cameron was named the country's new foreign secretary on
Monday in a surprise appointment by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he reshuffled his top
team.
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 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.
Cameron will be made a life peer in the House of Lords, Britain's unelected upper chamber
of parliament, making him eligible to sit in government.*
In a statement released shortly after his new role was announced, Cameron said Britain was
“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," he said.
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.
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20231113-sunak-appoints-former-pm-david-cameron-foreign-secretary-as-part-of-uk-cabinet-reshuffle

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxg27qMfbBs

* Commons speaker says he'll ensure Cameron is accountable

The Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, has just reassured Parliament that
he'll make sure the new foreign secretary can be scrutinised by MPs.
David Cameron - now Lord Cameron - will not be available in the Commons, as previous
foreign secretaries have been.
But Sir Lindsay says he's sought advice from the clerks and looks forward to hearing
government proposals on how the foreign secretary can be "properly accountable" to MPs.
"I can assure the house I'm fully aware of the need for... members to be able to hold the
government to account in this area – especially at the current time. "I will do everything I can
to ensure we are able to do so."
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-politics-67370421