Suella Braverman has been sacked as home secretary – with James Cleverly appointed as her replacement.
She was asked to leave the job this morning by Rishi Sunak.
Mr Cleverly, who had been foreign secretary, was moved to take over the Home Office brief.
Politics latest: Braverman sacked again – as reshuffle happening today
Shortly after, former prime minister David Cameron was appointed foreign secretary – and handed a “barony” so he can serve in government again.
A former prime minister returning to government in this way is highly unusual.
In a statement released after her sacking, Ms Braverman said: “It has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve as home secretary. I will have more to say in due course.”
Mr Cleverly said on social media: “It is an honour to be appointed as home secretary. The goal is clear. My job is to keep people in this country safe.”
Today marks the second time Ms Braverman has lost the job of home secretary – after she resigned from Liz Truss’s government breaking the ministerial code.
Mr Sunak reappointed her less than a week later when he took over as prime minister.
In a post on the Conservative Party’s social media, it claims Mr Sunak’s reshuffle today “strengthens his team in government to deliver long-term decisions for a brighter future”.
Last week, Ms Braverman wrote a newspaper article that accused the police of “playing favourites” as she criticised the Metropolitan Police’s handling of a controversial pro-Palestinian march for Armistice Day.
The prime minister came under pressure to act after Ms Braverman was accused of undermining the operational independence of – and public confidence in – the police.
Critics, from both opposition parties and fellow Tory MPs, called Ms Braverman’s comments “offensive” and “inflammatory”.
Read more:
Tory party’s most divisive politician is out – but won’t be last we hear from her
Over the weekend, far-right protesters clashed with police in Westminster. Elsewhere, pro-Palestinian marches also ended with arrests.
Speaking to Sky News this morning, armed forces minister James Heappey became the latest member of the government to distance themselves from Ms Braverman’s words – joining Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.
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But the move will anger some in the party. Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns said on X: “I support Suella Braverman. Sacked for speaking the truth. Bad call by Rishi caving in to the left!”
As well as Ms Braverman being sacked, a number of junior ministers also left government.
Nick Gibb, who has been a minister in the Deparment for Education for much of the past decade, announced he was standing down.
Neil O’Brien said he had asked to return to the backbenches from his role as a junior minister in the Department for Health and Social Care.
Pat McFadden, Labour’s national campaign coordinator, said: “A few weeks ago Rishi Sunak said David Cameron was part of a failed status quo, now he’s bringing him back as his life raft.
“This puts to bed the prime ,inister’s laughable claim to offer change from 13 years of Tory failure.”
