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Cameron is BACK

The title says it all.


WHAT HAPPENED?

There have been calls for Suella Braverman to leave last week due to her comments on the homeless as well as unsavoury language in an article published by the Times. Her comments have emboldened the far-right but Sunak said he had full faith in her as Home Secretary. However, the pro-Palestinean marches on Armistice Day involved a spate of arrests: individuals who were far-right and causing trouble. Braverman's rhetoric told the public this kind of reaction was okay, hence why Sunak sacked her this morning.


With sackings come appointments - James Cleverly has been moved to the Home Secretary role from Foreign Secretary. To fill the vacancy for Foreign Secretary, Sunak has chosen to appoint David Cameron: former PM of the UK from 2010-2016.


WHY?

Who knows? This move by Sunak has BLINDSIDED political analysts. Is this a part of Sunak's game plan? Was it on the advice of SPADs? Is it all in the name of bolstering the Tories for the General Election 2024? Sunak has completely changed his tune as in the Conservative Party Conference just a month ago, he kept saying his party was the party of change, and that voters should be looking to the future. Bringing back Cameron is contrary to his sentiment - it symbolises the last 13 years of Conservative rule and what that has done to the country.


It is all guesswork - the next election is in a year and having a former PM who won two elections is a powerful move to employ. However, Cameron is the one responsible for austerity cuts and the Brexit referendum, indefinitely changing the path of British history forever. There is understandably a percentage of people enraged with his reintroduction into frontline politics.


WHAT IS NEXT?

Cameron is the Foreign Secretary so will be responsible for the UK's relationships with other countries and in particular: foreign aid. This is crucial because Cameron has famously criticised Sunak's government for cutting the percentage of national income devoted to foreign aid. Will he stand by his policy or go along with Sunak's? Cameron is also pro-Israel which will make the next few months interesting for the UK's stance on assisting states in situations of unrest.


The cherry on top of Cameron's return is the lack of accountability. As if it wasn't enough that he set off the bomb that was Brexit, he will not be questioned in the House of Commons on his work as Foreign Secretary. Cameron is in a unique position; he is not a MP so will not sit in the Commons. So how can he be a government minister when British law requires ministers to be a member of the Commons or the Lords? Sunak has made Cameron a Lord in order to carry out the role, with Downing Street confirming that the King had raised him as required.


This act by Sunak reinforces the notion that politicians manipulate the rules of the game to their advantage. Cameron himself made Andrew Dunlop a Lord in 2015 to make him a minister in the Scotland office and was met with criticism for this method as well as accusations of governing Scotland. The SNP will not be welcoming Cameron back with open arms.


The man who engineered austerity and Brexit is in charge of our foreign affairs and can't even be questioned effectively. This is not just any politician but one with a track record of catastrophic decisions. His appointment is outrageous but officially kicks off the election race - it is time for the Opposition parties to stand up and do something, rather than wait for Conservative deficiencies to use as a case for election.


British politics just got a little more complicated.


*Header image belongs to BBC, all rights reserved 
*SPAD:Special Advisors, to politicians in government offices 

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