Is David Cameron an MP and how can he be in the Cabinet?
David Cameron, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, has made a surprising return to politics, seven years after stepping down from his role. However, it is important to note that Cameron is not currently serving as a Member of Parliament (MP). He resigned as MP to Witney in 2016 after having served as a constituency MP since 2001.
Cameron's comeback was announced as part of a significant shake-up to Rishi Sunak's cabinet in November 2023. So, how is it possible for Cameron to be in the Cabinet without being an MP?
From MP to Peer: Cameron's Path to the Cabinet
Although he is no longer an elected politician, David Cameron has been granted a peerage in the House of Lords, which allows him to return to the Cabinet. The former Prime Minister was granted a peerage by King Charles on the morning of November 13, 2023. As a result, Cameron has taken over the role of Foreign Secretary from James Cleverly, who replaced Suella Braverman as Home Secretary.
Having retired as one of the youngest ex-PMs in history, Cameron undoubtedly seized the opportunity to immerse himself once again in UK politics. In fact, in 2018, he reportedly expressed his boredom without his political career and even expressed interest in making a comeback to a top job.
The Departure of Suella Braverman: Why was she sacked as Home Secretary?
Suella Braverman, who held the position of Home Secretary, left her role for the second time on November 13, 2023. In a brief statement, she expressed that serving as Home Secretary had been the greatest privilege of her life and mentioned that she would have more to say in due course.
Braverman's dismissal came following the publication of an article she wrote for The Times, which sparked outrage among the public, her political rivals, and even members of the Conservative Party. The controversial piece, written prior to the November 11 pro-Palestine march in London, accused the Metropolitan Police of favoring left-wing protesters.
These comments faced severe backlash, and critics of Braverman blamed her for inciting violence after the protest witnessed clashes between far-right thugs, police, and protesters. It was also reported that Rishi Sunak had requested edits to be made to the article before its publication, but these requests were ignored.
The Prime Minister was said to be furious over Braverman's apparent breach of Downing Street's ministerial code. As a result, Braverman was replaced by James Cleverly as Home Secretary. Interestingly, Braverman had previously held the role of Home Secretary for a brief period in September 2022, appointed by Liz Truss, but stepped down after using her personal email for official business. Sunak then re-appointed her once he became Prime Minister.
