In a major cabinet reshuffling, Suella Braverman was removed from her position as United Kingdom Home Secretary, with James Cleverly appointed as the new Secretary of State for Home Affairs. Former Prime Minister David Cameron was also appointed as the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, in a surprising move announced Downing Street.
The decision to sack Suella Braverman came after her sharp criticism of the Metropolitan Police amidst ongoing Pro-Palestine rallies in the United Kingdom, as reported Reuters. This led to mounting pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, ultimately resulting in her removal from the position.
The official X handle of UK Prime Minister confirmed the appointment of James Cleverly and David Cameron in a series of posts on social media, marking the second time a former Prime Minister has returned to the cabinet since World War II. Notably, Cameron had resigned as the PM in 2016 after Britain voted to leave the European Union.
Braverman’s criticism of the police and her controversial article in the Times UK led to her dismissal, as she accused the police of applying a “double standard” to rallies, particularly pro-Palestinian marches. This decision sparked controversy and public debate.
The ongoing Pro-Palestine rallies in the UK have been a point of contention, with one of the largest marches in London seeing protestors march through the capital in opposition to US President Joe Biden’s support for the Israeli military’s ground operation in Gaza. The demonstrations reportedly included pro Hamas slogans and anti-Jewish chants, raising concerns about anti-Semitism.
These developments have brought about significant changes in the UK cabinet and sparked discussions about the handling of Pro-Palestine rallies and the government’s response to the conflict in the Middle East.