November 2023 British cabinet reshuffle

File:Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attends South Africa State Visit (52517519348).jpg

Amid rising tensions the previous week,{{cite news |last=Mason |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Mason (journalist) |date=13 November 2023 |title=PM facing tough week over Braverman and Rwanda |work=BBC News |agency= |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-67396107 |url-status=live |access-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113022012/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-67396107 |archive-date=13 November 2023}} Sunak sacked Suella Braverman from her position as Home Secretary on 13 November 2023.{{Cite news |date=2023-11-13 |title=Rishi Sunak sacks Suella Braverman as home secretary |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-67401753 |access-date=2024-01-12 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} She had previously been sacked from the same position by Sunak's predecessor Liz Truss in October 2022. According to The Guardian, the trigger for her sacking was an article she wrote and published in The Times on 8 November 2023,{{cite news |last1=Braverman |first1=Suella |author-link=Suella Braverman |date=8 November 2023 |title=Suella Braverman: Police must be even-handed with protests |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/pro-palestine-protest-london-met-police-cbqnxbtv3 |url-status=live |access-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231110122128/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/pro-palestine-protest-london-met-police-cbqnxbtv3 |archive-date=10 November 2023}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Peter |last2=Crear |first2=Pippa |author-link2=Pippa Crerar |last3=Stacey |first3=Kiran |date=13 November 2023 |title=Suella Braverman sacked as home secretary after article criticising police |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/nov/13/suella-braverman-sacked-home-secretary |url-status=live |access-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113085232/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/nov/13/suella-braverman-sacked-home-secretary |archive-date=13 November 2023}} She was replaced by the Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.{{Cite news |last1=Syal |first1=Rajeev |last2=Adu |first2=Aletha |date=13 November 2023 |title=James Cleverly appointed home secretary in cabinet reshuffle |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/nov/13/james-cleverly-appointed-home-secretary-in-cabinet-reshuffle |access-date=13 November 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113130611/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/nov/13/james-cleverly-appointed-home-secretary-in-cabinet-reshuffle |url-status=live }}

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.{{Cite web |last1=Singh |first1=Arj |last2=Merrick |first2=Jane |author-link2=Jane Merrick |date=13 November 2023 |title=Inside Cameron's return: he'll be on hand for PM's 'big decisions' after secret deal by Hague |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron-return-decisions-secret-william-hague-deal-2751313 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113155951/https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron-return-decisions-secret-william-hague-deal-2751313 |archive-date=13 November 2023 |access-date=13 November 2023 |website=inews.co.uk |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Hague |first=William |date=13 November 2023 |title=David Cameron's decency is an asset to ailing Tories |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/camerons-decency-is-an-asset-to-ailing-tories-x8zf2mfgp |access-date=13 November 2023 |issn=0140-0460 |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113222034/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/camerons-decency-is-an-asset-to-ailing-tories-x8zf2mfgp |url-status=live }} Since Cameron had resigned from parliament on 12 September 2016,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-37342152 |title=David Cameron quits as Conservative MP for Witney |work=BBC News |date=12 September 2016 |access-date=12 September 2016 |archive-date=12 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912175227/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-37342152 |url-status=live }} it was announced on the morning of the reshuffle that he would be appointed to a life peerage. 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).{{cite news |last=Landale |first=James |date=13 November 2023 |title=David Cameron return comes with foreign policy baggage |work=BBC News |agency= |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-67406036 |url-status=live |access-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113142949/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-67406036 |archive-date=13 November 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Crerar |first1=Pippa |title=Cameron's comeback explodes Sunak's 'change candidate' claim |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/nov/13/david-cameron-comeback-explodes-rishi-sunak-change-candidate-claim |access-date=13 November 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=13 November 2023 |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113162417/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/nov/13/david-cameron-comeback-explodes-rishi-sunak-change-candidate-claim |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite web |date=13 November 2023 |title=Men hold all four great offices of state for first time since Tories elected |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/james-cleverly-cameron-tories-men-suella-braverman-b2446457.html |access-date=13 November 2023 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113155728/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/james-cleverly-cameron-tories-men-suella-braverman-b2446457.html |url-status=live }}

The Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey announced that she had resigned after serving in the government since 2014 under five prime ministers.{{Cite web |title=Therese Coffey has resigned from Rishi Sunak's cabinet as environment secretary |url=https://news.sky.com/video/therese-coffey-has-resigned-from-rishi-sunaks-cabinet-as-environment-secretary-13007283 |access-date=13 November 2023 |website=Sky News |language=en |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113193204/https://news.sky.com/video/therese-coffey-has-resigned-from-rishi-sunaks-cabinet-as-environment-secretary-13007283 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=13 November 2023 |title=British environment minister Coffey resigns in reshuffle |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/british-environment-minister-coffey-quits-2023-11-13/ |access-date=13 November 2023 |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113184839/https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/british-environment-minister-coffey-quits-2023-11-13/ |url-status=live }} Coffey was replaced by the Health Secretary Steve Barclay, with the Financial Secretary to the Treasury Victoria Atkins being promoted to Health Secretary.{{Cite web |date=13 November 2023 |title=New Health Secretary appointed at 'critical juncture' for NHS |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/steve-barclay-health-secretary-nhs-rishi-sunak-nhs-providers-b2446474.html |access-date=13 November 2023 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113162853/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/steve-barclay-health-secretary-nhs-rishi-sunak-nhs-providers-b2446474.html |url-status=live }}

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.{{Cite web |date=13 November 2023 |title=Second Sussex MP quits Cabinet during reshuffle |url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/23920213.horsham-mp-jeremy-quin-quits-cabinet-reshuffle/ |access-date=13 November 2023 |website=The Argus |language=en |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113141311/http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/23920213.horsham-mp-jeremy-quin-quits-cabinet-reshuffle/ |url-status=live }} He was replaced by John Glen, with Laura Trott being promoted to Glen's former position as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

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.{{Cite web |title=Cabinet reshuffle live: Cameron in shock return, Cleverly moves to home secretary, Atkins to health |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-67370421 |access-date=13 November 2023 |website=BBC News |date=13 November 2023 |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113084309/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-67370421 |url-status=live }}

The backbencher Esther McVey was appointed Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office.{{Cite web |title=Ministerial appointments: November 2023 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-november-2023 |access-date=13 November 2023 |website=GOV.UK |date=13 November 2023 |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113095212/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-november-2023 |url-status=live }}

Reactions to the reshuffle focused to a considerable extent on Cameron's "surprise" return to frontline politics.{{cite news |last1=Lawless |first1=Jill |title=Ex-leader David Cameron makes shock return to UK government as Sunak rolls the dice with a shakeup |url=https://apnews.com/article/uk-suella-braverman-fired-cabinet-shuffle-7ea6c89306a427cc70fba75bc386be79 |access-date=13 November 2023 |work=Associated Press News |date=13 November 2023 |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113091700/https://apnews.com/article/uk-suella-braverman-fired-cabinet-shuffle-7ea6c89306a427cc70fba75bc386be79 |url-status=live }} 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".{{Cite web |title=Reshuffle latest: Braverman 'not sacked over protest remarks'; poll reveals what public thinks of Cameron return as he makes first statement |url=https://news.sky.com/story/suella-braverman-future-latest-reshuffle-rishi-sunak-live-updates-12593360 |access-date=13 November 2023 |website=Sky News |language=en |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113171814/https://news.sky.com/story/suella-braverman-future-latest-reshuffle-rishi-sunak-live-updates-12593360 |url-status=live }} 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?"{{cite news |last1=Bet |first1=Martina |title=Wes Streeting describes Cabinet reshuffle as another 'Conservative clown show' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/wes-streeting-david-cameron-government-helen-whately-rishi-sunak-b2446568.html |access-date=13 November 2023 |work=The Independent |date=13 November 2023 |archive-date=14 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114011227/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/wes-streeting-david-cameron-government-helen-whately-rishi-sunak-b2446568.html |url-status=live }}

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".{{Cite tweet|number=1724010553343910212|user=theresa_may|title=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!|first=Theresa|last=May|date=13 November 2023|access-date=14 November 2023}}

Following the cabinet reshuffle, Andrea Jenkyns submitted a public letter of no confidence in Rishi Sunak.{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/rishi-sunak-faces-revolt-tory-31430450 |title=Rishi Sunak faces revolt as Tory MP delivers brutal warning in letter of no confidence |first=Ashley |last=Cowburn |work=The Mirror |date=13 November 2023 |access-date=13 November 2023 |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113201527/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/rishi-sunak-faces-revolt-tory-31430450 |url-status=live }}

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