November 2023 British cabinet reshuffle

Second cabinet reshuffle undertaken by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak carried out the second cabinet reshuffle of his premiership on 13 November 2023. Suella Braverman was replaced as Home Secretary by James Cleverly.[1] Cleverly was replaced as Foreign Secretary by the former Prime Minister David Cameron, who was made a life peer as Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton.[2][3]

Changes

Amid rising tensions the previous week,[4] Sunak sacked Suella Braverman from her position as Home Secretary on 13 November 2023.[5] She had previously been sacked from the same position by Sunak's predecessor Liz Truss in October 2022.[6] According to The Guardian, the trigger for her sacking was an article she wrote and published in The Times on 8 November 2023,[7] which included a statement that there was "a perception that senior police officers play favourites when it comes to protesters" and were tougher on rightwing extremists than pro-Palestinian "mobs". The Guardian reported that the Prime Minister's office had asked for changes to be made to the article, but not all were implemented.[8] She was replaced by the Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.[9][1]

With the foreign secretary's office falling vacant, party grandee Lord Hague reportedly negotiated a deal between Sunak and the former Prime Minister David Cameron that saw Cameron appointed Foreign Secretary.[10][11] Since Cameron had resigned from parliament on 12 September 2016,[12] it was announced on the morning of the reshuffle that he would be appointed to a life peerage.[2] He is the first foreign secretary to serve from the House of Lords since Lord Carrington (1979–1982) and the first former prime minister to return to Cabinet since Alec Douglas-Home (1970–1974).[13][6] Following the appointment of Cleverly as Home Secretary and Cameron as Foreign Secretary, all four Great Offices of State are held by men for the first time since 2010.[14]

The Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey announced that she had resigned after serving in the government since 2014 under five prime ministers.[15][16] Coffey was replaced by the Health Secretary Steve Barclay, with the Financial Secretary to the Treasury Victoria Atkins being promoted to Health Secretary.[17]

The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General Jeremy Quin stated that, despite being asked to continue to serve in government, he had resigned from his positions.[18] He was replaced by John Glen, with Laura Trott being promoted to Glen's former position as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.[3]

Richard Holden was appointed Chairman of the Conservative Party and Minister without Portfolio following Greg Hands' demotion to Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade.[19]

The backbencher Esther McVey was appointed Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office.[20]

Cabinet-level changes

Colour key
  •      Joined the Cabinet
  •      Left the Cabinet
Minister Position before reshuffle Position after reshuffle
Suella Braverman Home Secretary Dismissed from the government
James Cleverly Foreign Secretary Home Secretary
David Cameron None[a] Foreign Secretary
Thérèse Coffey Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Resigned from the government
Steve Barclay Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Richard Holden Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Roads and Local Transport Chairman of the Conservative Party
Minister without Portfolio
Victoria Atkins Financial Secretary to the Treasury Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Laura Trott Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Jeremy Quin Minister for the Cabinet Office
Paymaster General 		Resigned from the government
Greg Hands Chairman of the Conservative Party
Minister without Portfolio 		Minister of State for Trade Policy
Minister for London
John Glen Chief Secretary to the Treasury Minister for the Cabinet Office
Paymaster General
Esther McVey Backbench MP Minister without portfolio

Junior ministerial changes

Colour key
  •      Promoted[b]
  •      Left the government
Minister Position before reshuffle Position after reshuffle
Nick Gibb Minister of State for Schools Resigned from the government[21]
Neil O'Brien Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Primary Care and Public Health Resigned from the government[22]
Will Quince Minister of State for Health and Secondary Care Resigned from the government[23]
Jesse Norman Minister of State for Transport Resigned from the government[24]
Rachel Maclean Minister of State for Housing and Planning Dismissed from the government[25]
George Freeman Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation Resigned from the government[26]
Lee Rowley Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Government and Building Safety Minister of State for Housing, Planning and Building Safety[27]
Jo Churchill Vice-Chamberlain of the Household Minister of State for Employment[20]
Andrew Griffith Economic Secretary to the Treasury Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation[20]
Damian Hinds Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation Minister of State for Schools[20]
Nigel Huddleston Minister of State for International Trade Financial Secretary to the Treasury[20]
Andrew Stephenson Lord Commissioner of the Treasury Minister of State for Health and Secondary Care[20]
Paul Scully Minister for London
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Tech and the Digital Economy 		Dismissed from the government[28]
Bim Afolami Backbench MP Economic Secretary to the Treasury[20]
Gareth Bacon Backbench MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sentencing[29]
Saqib Bhatti Backbench MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Tech and the Digital Economy[20]
Anthony Browne Backbench MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Transport[20]
Laura Farris Backbench MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Victims and Safeguarding[30]
Simon Hoare Backbench MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities[20]
Fay Jones Assistant government whip Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales[20]
Andrea Leadsom Backbench MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, Start for Life and Primary Care[20]
Paul Maynard Backbench MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions[20]
Robbie Moore Backbench MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs[20]
Guy Opperman Minister of State for Employment Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Transport[20]
Stuart Anderson Lord Commissioner of the Treasury Vice-Chamberlain of the Household[20]
Amanda Milling Backbench MP Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[20]
Joy Morrissey Assistant government whip Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[20]
Mike Wood Backbench MP Lord Commissioner of the Treasury[20]
Lord Gascoigne Backbench Peer Lord-in-waiting
Government Whip
Lord Mott Lord-in-waiting
Government Whip 		Left the government[31]
Aaron Bell Backbench MP Assistant government whip
Mark Fletcher Backbench MP Assistant government whip
Mark Jenkinson Backbench MP Assistant government whip
Suzanne Webb Backbench MP Assistant government whip
Lord Benyon Minister of State for Biosecurity, Marine and Rural Affairs Minister of State for Climate, Environment and Energy[20]
Earl of Minto Minister of State for Regulatory Reform Minister of State for Defence[20]
Baroness Vere of Norbiton Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Aviation, Maritime and Security Parliamentary Secretary in HM Treasury [20]
Lord Davies of Gower Lord-in-waiting
Government Whip 		Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Transport[20]
Baroness Penn Parliamentary Secretary in HM Treasury Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities[20]
Baroness Goldie Minister of State for Defence Left the government[32]
Trudy Harrison Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Land Use Resigned from the government[33]
Lord Murray of Blidworth Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Migration and Borders Left the government[34]
James Davies Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales Left the government[35]
Julie Marson Assistant government whip Resigned from the government[36]
Steve Double Lord Commissioner of the Treasury Resigned from the government[37]
Sarah Dines Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding Dismissed from the government[38]

Reaction

Reactions to the reshuffle focused to a considerable extent on Cameron's "surprise" return to frontline politics.[39] The Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall asked the Works and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride about unemployment, saying "it turns out the government can get the over 50s back to work, just only if they are former prime ministers".[40] Addressing the House of Commons during the debate on the King's Speech, the Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting asked, "What kind of message does it send their constituents that their own party leader cannot find a suitable candidate for foreign secretary among the 350 Conservative MPs who sit in this House?"[41]

On Twitter, former Prime Minister Theresa May congratulated Cameron on his appointment as Foreign Secretary, adding that the experience he acquired during his tenure as Prime Minister "will be invaluable at this time of great uncertainty in our world".[42]

Following the cabinet reshuffle, Andrea Jenkyns submitted a public letter of no confidence in Rishi Sunak.[43]

Notes

  1. ^ Appointed to the House of Lords as Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton on 17 November 2023.
  2. ^ According to the ministerial pay scale:

References

  1. ^ a b Brown, Faye; Baker, Tim (13 November 2023). "James Cleverly replaces Suella Braverman as home secretary after PM sacks her in reshuffle". Sky News. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b Walker, Peter (13 November 2023). "He's not an MP, so how can David Cameron return to the cabinet?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b Landler, Mark (13 November 2023). "At a Time of War, Cameron Brings Experience but Also a Checkered Past". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  4. ^ Mason, Chris (13 November 2023). "PM facing tough week over Braverman and Rwanda". BBC News. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Rishi Sunak sacks Suella Braverman as home secretary". BBC News. 13 November 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  6. ^ a b Crerar, Pippa (13 November 2023). "Cameron's comeback explodes Sunak's 'change candidate' claim". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  7. ^ Braverman, Suella (8 November 2023). "Suella Braverman: Police must be even-handed with protests". The Times. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  8. ^ Walker, Peter; Crear, Pippa; Stacey, Kiran (13 November 2023). "Suella Braverman sacked as home secretary after article criticising police". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  9. ^ Syal, Rajeev; Adu, Aletha (13 November 2023). "James Cleverly appointed home secretary in cabinet reshuffle". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  10. ^ Singh, Arj; Merrick, Jane (13 November 2023). "Inside Cameron's return: he'll be on hand for PM's 'big decisions' after secret deal by Hague". inews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  11. ^ Hague, William (13 November 2023). "David Cameron's decency is an asset to ailing Tories". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  12. ^ "David Cameron quits as Conservative MP for Witney". BBC News. 12 September 2016. Archived from the original on 12 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  13. ^ Landale, James (13 November 2023). "David Cameron return comes with foreign policy baggage". BBC News. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Men hold all four great offices of state for first time since Tories elected". The Independent. 13 November 2023. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Therese Coffey has resigned from Rishi Sunak's cabinet as environment secretary". Sky News. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  16. ^ "British environment minister Coffey resigns in reshuffle". Reuters. 13 November 2023. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  17. ^ "New Health Secretary appointed at 'critical juncture' for NHS". The Independent. 13 November 2023. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Second Sussex MP quits Cabinet during reshuffle". The Argus. 13 November 2023. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  19. ^ "Cabinet reshuffle live: Cameron in shock return, Cleverly moves to home secretary, Atkins to health". BBC News. 13 November 2023. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Ministerial appointments: November 2023". GOV.UK. 13 November 2023. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  21. ^ Walker, Peter (13 November 2023). "Experience makes way for Sunak loyalists as junior ministers quit". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  22. ^ "UPDATED: Neil O'Brien quits as pharmacy minister to 'focus 100%' on constituency". C+D. 13 November 2023. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  23. ^ "Will Quince resigns from ministerial position to focus on military training". Gazette. 13 November 2023. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  24. ^ "Hereford MP Jesse Norman resigns from the government". Hereford Times. 13 November 2023. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  25. ^ Gayne, Daniel (13 November 2023). "Rachel Maclean departs as housing minister". Building. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  26. ^ "Norfolk MP George Freeman resigns from government post". Eastern Daily Press. 13 November 2023. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  27. ^ Boakye, Kwame (13 November 2023). "New housing minister named". Local Government Chronicle (LGC). Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  28. ^ Scully, Paul [@scullyp] (13 November 2023). "Had better days at work. Waited for 3 buses to get in this morning and then got the Spanish Archer this evening from my two ministerial positions in the reshuffle..." (Tweet). Retrieved 13 November 2023 – via Twitter.
  29. ^ "Parliamentary Under Secretary of State - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  30. ^ "Parliamentary Under Secretary of State - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  31. ^ "Lord Mott OBE". GOV.UK. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  32. ^ "Minister of State - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  33. ^ "MP will stand down as minister to 'devote final months solely' to her constituency". News and Star. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  34. ^ "Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Migration and Borders (Lords Minister) - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  35. ^ "Dr James Davies MP". GOV.UK. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  36. ^ "Another Tory MP quits UK Government after Rishi Sunak reshuffle". The National. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  37. ^ Vergnault, Olivier (14 November 2023). "Cornwall MP quits government job". Cornwall Live. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  38. ^ Dines, Sarah [@Dines4Dales] (13 November 2023). "(1/4) I have been asked this evening to step down from my government role as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding. It has been a great privilege to have held this position for over a year during which I worked hard to assist vulnerable communities" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 November 2023 – via Twitter.
  39. ^ Lawless, Jill (13 November 2023). "Ex-leader David Cameron makes shock return to UK government as Sunak rolls the dice with a shakeup". Associated Press News. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  40. ^ "Reshuffle latest: Braverman 'not sacked over protest remarks'; poll reveals what public thinks of Cameron return as he makes first statement". Sky News. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  41. ^ Bet, Martina (13 November 2023). "Wes Streeting describes Cabinet reshuffle as another 'Conservative clown show'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  42. ^ May, Theresa [@theresa_may] (13 November 2023). "Congratulations to @David_Cameron on his return to government. His immense experience on the international stage will be invaluable at this time of great uncertainty in our world. Looking forward to working together again!" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 November 2023 – via Twitter.
  43. ^ Cowburn, Ashley (13 November 2023). "Rishi Sunak faces revolt as Tory MP delivers brutal warning in letter of no confidence". The Mirror. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
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