Rishi Sunak today launched a dramatic reshuffle, with the ouster of Suella Braverman as home secretary – and signs of a shock comeback for David Cameron.
The prime minister has sought to oust Ms Braverman as he seeks to restore his authority with potentially less than a year to go before a general election.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, a close ally of Mr Sunak with less strident views on the European Convention on Human Rights, takes over as Home Office.
In a move that could trigger an earthquake in Westminster, David Cameron has moved up to No. 10, possibly to receive a peerage and take over Mr Cleverly’s old role. He would be the member of the House of Lords to have held the role since Lord Carrington in the 1980s.
Just weeks ago, Mr Cameron condemned Mr Sunak’s decision to downgrade the HS2 rail project.
Ms Braverman’s sacking comes after an extraordinary week of row over the handling of pro-Palestinian protests in London on ceasefire day.
She incurred the wrath of No 10 by launching “hate marches” and then writing an article accusing the police of bias without clarifying this.
Critics accuse her of fomenting violence as far-right counter-demonstrators took to the streets – although the Tories are deeply divided and their supporters say the grim scenes in the capital have vindicated her.
The astonishing developments were greeted with extreme sarcasm by a former minister of the right-wing ERG bloc. “We are excited. “All we need is for Tobias Ellwood to become defense minister and our joy will be complete,” they said.
A Tory aide said Mr Sunak had been involved in “top-right trolling”.
A Downing Street source said: “Rishi Sunak has asked Suella Braverman to leave the government and she has agreed.”
In a threatening response, 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.’
The Conservatives announced the start of the reshuffle with a message on social media that Mr Sunak was “strengthening his team… to make long-term decisions for a better future”.
Suella Braverman was today sacked as Home Secretary by Rishi Sunak
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly (right) was spotted in Downing Street, sparking speculation that he could take over the Home Office. In a decision that could trigger an earthquake in Westminster, David Cameron (left) has moved up to tenth place
The prime minister is trying to restore his authority with a general election potentially less than a year away
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has been spotted in Downing Street, sparking speculation that he could take over the Home Office
The Conservatives announced the start of the reshuffle with a message on social media that Mr Sunak was “strengthening his team… to make long-term decisions for a better future”.
Police arrested a man during protests in central London on Saturday
Last night, Ms Braverman spoke out defiantly despite increasing speculation about her fate, releasing a statement in which she said pro-Gaza demonstrations “polluting the streets with hate” “could not continue”.
She criticized the “emphasis on terrorism” on ceasefire day and said further action was needed.
A No10 briefing overnight suggested the government was considering tightening rules on police blocking such protests – which take place weekly in the capital.
After holding back ahead of Remembrance weekend, Downing Street appears to have decided it must act ahead of a key court ruling on Rwanda policy on Wednesday.
The government is prepared to lose the case amid concerns that Ms Braverman may have sought to burnish her credibility with the conservative right by quitting and demanding that the UK leave the European Convention on Human Rights.
More key jobs are expected to change hands, with Health Secretary Steve Barclay and Environment Secretary Therese Coffey considered at risk.
However, Jeremy Hunt is almost certain to be safe with barely a week left until the autumn declaration.
More than 100 arrests were made on Saturday after clashes between far-right groups and pro-Palestinian protesters in central London.
Ms Braverman’s intervention came as speculation about her political future raged after she clashed with Downing Street over a newspaper article, which critics said inflamed tensions.
The Tories are well behind in the polls and MPs are becoming increasingly nervous about Sunak’s inability to make an impact
Ahead of Saturday’s protests, the interior minister described them as a “hate march” and accused officials of “playing favorites” with the demonstrators. Last night, amid rumors of a cabinet reshuffle, she doubled down on her comments.
In uncompromising language, Ms Braverman tweeted that the chants, signs and placards carried by some protesters were “clearly criminal” and marked a “new low”.
She added: “Anti-Semitism and other forms of racism, as well as the valorization of terrorism on such a scale, are deeply disturbing.”
“This cannot continue.” Week after week, the streets of London are polluted by hate, violence and anti-Semitism. The population is bullied and intimidated. Jewish people in particular feel threatened. Further action is required.’