Rishi Sunak today kicked off a dramatic reshuffle, with Suella Braverman sacked as Home Secretary – and signs of a shock comeback for David Cameron.
The Prime Minister decided to oust Ms Braverman as he tries to re-establish his authority with potentially less than a year before a general election.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has been sighted in Downing Street, sparking speculation he could take charge of the Home Office.
In a decision that could cause an earthquake through Westminster, David Cameron has been paraded into Number 10, possibly to gain a peerage and fill Mr Cleverly’s old role. He would be the member of the House of Lords to hold this role since Lord Carrington in the 1980s.
A few weeks ago, Mr Cameron condemned Mr Sunak’s decision to downgrade the HS2 rail project.
Ms Braverman’s resignation comes after an extraordinary week of row over the handling of pro-Palestinian protests in London on Armistice Day.
She angered Number 10 by lashing out at “hate marches” and then writing an article accusing the police of bias without approval.
Critics have blamed her for stoking violence, with far-right counter-protesters taking to the streets – although the Tories are deeply divided and supporters say the grim scenes in the capital have proven her right.
The stunning developments were greeted with extreme sarcasm by a former minister in the right-wing ERG bloc. ‘We are ecstatic. “All we need is for Tobias Ellwood to become Secretary of Defense and our joy will be complete,” they said.
The Cabinet minister sounded defiant last night, despite mounting speculation about her fate, in a statement saying: pro-Gaza demonstrations that ‘pollute’ the streets with hatred ‘cannot continue’.
A Downing Street source said: ‘Rishi Sunak has asked Suella Braverman to leave the government and she has accepted.’
In an ominous response, Ms Braverman said: “It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be Home Secretary. I will have more to say in due course.”
The Conservatives announced the reshuffle began with a social media post saying Sunak is “strengthening his team… to make long-term decisions for a better future.”
Suella Braverman was today sacked as Home Secretary by Rishi Sunak
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly (right) has been spotted in Downing Street, sparking speculation he could take charge of the Home Office. In a decision that could send an earthquake through Westminster, David Cameron (left) has paraded into Number 10
The Prime Minister is seeking to re-establish his authority with potentially less than a year before a general election
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has been sighted in Downing Street, sparking speculation he could take over the reins at the Home Office.
The Conservatives announced the reshuffle began with a social media post saying Mr Sunak is ‘strengthening his team… to make long-term decisions for a better future’
Police arrested a man during protests in central London on Saturday
She denounced the “valorisation of terrorism” on Armistice Day and said further action was needed.
A briefing from Number 10 last night revealed that the government is considering tightening rules on police to block such protests – which take place every week in the capital.
After delaying its decision ahead of the Remembrance weekend, Downing Street looks set to take action on Wednesday ahead of a major court ruling on Rwanda policy.
The government is keen to lose the case amid concerns that Ms Braverman may have tried to burnish her credentials with the Tory right by quitting and demanding Britain sign the European Convention on Human Rights leaves.
Other major courses are expected to change hands, with Health Minister Steve Barclay and Environment Minister Therese Coffey tipped as under threat.
However, Jeremy Hunt is almost certainly safe with barely a week until the Autumn Statement.
More than 100 arrests were made on Saturday after clashes between far-right groups and pro-Palestinian protesters in central London.
Ms Braverman’s intervention came as speculation raged over her political future after her clash with Downing Street over a newspaper article, which critics said led to tensions.
The Tories are far behind in the polls, with MPs increasingly nervous about Sunak’s inability to make an impact
Ahead of Saturday’s protest, the interior minister labeled it a “hate march” and accused officers of “playing favorites” with protesters. Last night, amid rumors of a cabinet reshuffle, she doubled down on her comments.
In uncompromising language, Ms. Braverman tweeted that the chants, placards and posters carried by some protesters were “clearly criminal” and marked a “new low.”
She added: ‘Anti-Semitism and other forms of racism, together with the valorisation of terrorism on such a scale, are deeply disturbing.
‘This cannot continue. Week after week, the streets of London are polluted by hatred, violence and anti-Semitism. The public is harassed and intimidated. Jewish people in particular feel threatened. Further action is necessary.’