David Cameron makes an unexpected reappearance in a risky reorganisation

In a cabinet reshuffle that followed Suella Braverman’s resignation as home secretary, David Cameron returned to politics as Rishi Sunak’s foreign secretary.

Once again confirming the ministerial team expected to lead the party into the next election, the prime minister, who had promised to be the “change candidate” at the Conservative conference, looked to his centrist predecessor to help close the gap with Labour. In a blatant move towards the centre that alarmed some on the right of the party, Sunak promoted moderate James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, to the Home Office and confirmed that Jeremy Hunt would remain chancellor.

Although he “disagreed with some individual decisions” made by Sunak’s government, Cameron, who resigned as prime minister following the Brexit vote in 2016, has maintained a relatively low public profile, stating that “politics is a team enterprise.” The reorganisation of seats suggests an attempt to preserve the Tory base in southern blue wall seats, even if it means losing votes in the northern “red wall.”

According to people close to William Hague, the former leader of the Conservative Party, Cameron’s return was made possible. However, there is a catch: since he spearheaded the remain campaign, it is unclear how that will sit with a party that is now overwhelmingly in favour of Brexit. It is also likely that his role as the architect of the austerity that destroyed the welfare state and numerous public services in Britain will be investigated more closely. His business dealings with China since leaving government and his administration’s “golden era” of UK-China cooperation—a stance that Sunak last year called “naive” in light of mounting tensions with Beijing—were among the criticisms he was anticipating, according to allies.

In a speech on foreign policy at the lord mayor’s banquet in London’s Guildhall, Sunak pledged to defend tolerance and free speech because “conflicts overseas create division at home.” His choice to reinstate Cameron may inflame the party’s right flank, but it cheered moderate Conservatives who were appalled by Braverman’s stridently right-wing statements on matters like immigration, law enforcement, and homelessness.