Cameron and Cleverly given top jobs in Sunak cabinet reshuffle as Braverman sacked

The new home secretary James Cleverly has been asked whether he wants to distance himself from the language of his predecessor Suella Braverman.

He told broadcasters: “Well, I intend to do this job in the way I feel best protects the British people and our interests.

“I have had a very good conversation with the Prime Minister, who had made it very clear that he wants us to deliver on our promises to stop the boats, to protect the British people, make sure everybody feels secure in their lives.”

New home secretary James Cleverly has said he would be “committed” to “stopping the boats”.

Speaking to broadcasters after being moved from the foreign secretary post, he said it had been a “huge privilege” to hold that role.

He said: “In that time I worked very closely with my colleagues in the Home Office, cracking down on illegal migration, reducing the number of small boats arrivals, and now as the home secretary I am absolutely committed to stopping the boats as we promised, but also making sure that everybody in the UK feels safe and secure going about their daily business knowing that the government is here to protect them.

“It is a real privilege to serve.”

The return of the “architect of 13 years of Tory austerity cuts” shows “how tired this Tory government is”, the SNP has said.

The party’s Westminster deputy leader Mhairi Black said: “The fact that Rishi Sunak has had to resurrect David Cameron shows how tired this Tory government is.

“People in Scotland will be appalled that the architect of thirteen years of Tory austerity cuts, and the disastrous Brexit referendum, is back in government.’’

Jesse Norman, the MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire, said he has quit as a minister in the Department for Transport.

“It has been a great honour to serve in successive governments since 2016,” Mr Norman said in a letter to Rishi Sunak.

“Thank you for the calm, focused and long-term leadership you have given this country over the past year.”

The new home secretary has previously fought against government plans to use a former RAF base in his Braintree constituency to house asylum-seekers, our social affairs correspondent Holly Bancroft reports.

James Cleverly took to Facebook in March to reassure constituents that he had told the immigration minister that it was not appropriate accommodation.

“I highlighted the remote nature of the site, the limited transport infrastructure and narrow road network and that these factors would mean the site wasn’t appropriate for asylum accommodation,” he wrote.

After the home office confirmed that the site would be used anyway, he reiterated his opposition to the plan, saying: “I have made my views on the site clear from the beginning.”

Our social affairs correspondent Holly Bancroft reports:

By bringing in James Cleverly as home secretary, prime minister Rishi Sunak has avoided a clash with Suella Braverman on what to do next if flights to Rwanda are grounded on Wednesday. Ms Braverman had been in favour of leaving the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), a move popular with the hard right of the Conservative Party.

Mr Sunak reportedly disagreed with this and Ms Braverman was apparently considering resigning on principle on the issue if the Supreme Court judges ruled against the government.

Mr Cleverly, who was previously foreign secretary, has said he is “not convinced” that leaving the ECHR is necessary to ensure the UK’s tough approach to immigration. He told The Guardian in April that the UK should not wish to join Belarus and Russia, the only European countries outside the ECHR.

He defended the UK’s ability to influence and make changes within the ECHR, saying: “We are a serious player on the world stage.”

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has said Rishi Sunak made a mistake by sacking Suella Braverman, fuelling fears he will face a revolt from right-wing Tory MPs.

The former business secretary said Ms Braverman “understands what the country thinks about migration” and was “committed to delivering something that the country thinks is important”.

“From the point of view of the Conservatives winning the next election, today is a mistake because Suella understood what the British voter thought and was trying to do something about it,” he told GB News.

On the return of David Cameron, Sir Jacob added: “David Cameron got the Brexit issue wrong in terms of the Conservative Party and indeed the country at large who voted to leave but he did give us the choice to have the vote.”

The return of David Cameron is a “brilliant decision” by Rishi Sunak, Matt Hancock has said.

The former health secretary, who was first promoted to the front bench by Mr Cameron in 2012, said his appointment would be “superb” for Britain.

The now independent MP said: “Brilliant decision by the PM to make David Cameron Foreign Secretary
Superb for Great Britain – bringing his experience to guide us through difficult times.

“Excellent for the Conservatives, showing Rishi Sunak will fight the election on the centre ground.”

Will Quince has quit as a minister in the Department of Health and Social Care.

He said he was leaving as he was standing down at the next election and would now focus on his training as a specialist reserve officer in the Army and his work as a constituency MP.