The UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has reshuffled his cabinet today, sacking his Home Secretary Suella Braverman and bringing back former PM David Cameron as Foreign Secretary in a surprise move. The reshuffle comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East and a looming general election.
Braverman, who had been in the post for less than a year, was widely criticised for her inflammatory comments over the policing of protests in support of Palestine. She accused the Metropolitan Police of “playing favourites” with “pro-Palestinian mobs” and suggested that the UK should cut aid to the Palestinian Authority. She also clashed with Sunak over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic recovery plan.
In a statement, Sunak said: “Suella has gone because I want a united team to deliver the changes this country needs for the long term. I thank her for her service and wish her well for the future.”
Braverman said she was proud of her achievements as Home Secretary and vowed to have “more to say in due course”.
Sunak’s decision to appoint Cameron as Foreign Secretary is seen as a bold move to strengthen his foreign policy credentials and appeal to moderate voters. Cameron, who resigned as PM in 2016 after losing the Brexit referendum, has been out of frontline politics for seven years. He has been working as a consultant and a lobbyist for various companies and causes, including the failed Greensill Capital firm.
Sunak said he was delighted to welcome Cameron back to the cabinet and praised his “experience, vision and leadership”.
Cameron said he was honoured to serve his country again and thanked Sunak for his trust. He said he was looking forward to working with the UK’s allies and partners to tackle the global challenges of the 21st century. He also expressed his support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The reshuffle has been welcomed by many Tory MPs and supporters, who see it as a sign of Sunak’s confidence and authority. They also hope that Cameron’s return will boost the party’s chances of winning the next general election, which is expected to take place in 2024.
However, the reshuffle has also provoked criticism from some quarters, especially from the Labour Party, which is facing its own internal divisions following statements made by its party leader, Kier Starmer over the Israel-Palestine war.
On 11 October, Starmer gave an interview to LBC, where he was asked about his position on the Israel-Hamas conflict. He said, “I think Israel has the right to defend itself, to defend its borders, to defend its people. And I think that includes the right to cut off power, cut off water, to try to stop the rockets coming in.”
His comments sparked outrage among many Labour supporters, especially those who are pro-Palestinian or Muslim. They accused him of endorsing collective punishment and war crimes against the civilians in Gaza, who have been suffering from a blockade and a humanitarian crisis for years.
More than 20 Labour councilors throughout England resigned in protest over his remarks, including Amna Abdullatif, the first Arab Muslim woman elected to Manchester City Council, Russell Whiting in Colwick, Nottinghamshire, and Mona Ahmed, a Labour councilor in Kensington and Chelsea.
Some of the councilors said they felt betrayed by Starmer, who had promised to be a “friend of Palestine” and to uphold human rights and international law when he became the Labour leader in 2020.
In response to the resignations and concerns, Starmer issued a statement on 18 October, in which he clarified his remarks and reiterated his commitment to a two-state solution and criticised the “completely insufficient” level of aid entering Gaza.
However, his statement did not appease many of his critics, who said it was too little, too late, and that he had failed to condemn the Israeli aggression and call for a ceasefire. They also accused him of being out of touch with the grassroots and the public opinion, which overwhelmingly supports the Palestinian cause.
Starmer’s stance on Gaza continues to cause a rift within his own party, with four shadow ministers prepared to quit in the coming days and up to 10 others on “resignation watch”. Several Labour MPs said they were under huge pressure from party members and constituents to take a firmer stance against the Israeli invasion of Gaza.
The Scottish National party is considering using the king’s speech debates next week to force a vote on a call for a ceasefire, which could put Starmer in a difficult position and expose further divisions in his party.
Starmer’s handling of the Gaza crisis has damaged his popularity and credibility among the voters, who see him as weak, indecisive and inconsistent. A recent poll by YouGov showed that only 25% of the public think he is doing well as the Labour leader, while 49% think he is doing badly. His net approval rating is -24, the lowest since he took over the party.
The same poll also showed that the Conservatives have a 10-point lead over Labour, with 42% of the vote share, compared to 32% for Labour. This suggests that Starmer has failed to capitalise on the government’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic recovery.
The Labour Party’s woes are compounded by the rise of the Greens, who have overtaken the Liberal Democrats as the third most popular party, with 9% of the vote share. The Greens have been vocal in their support for the Palestinians and their criticism of the Israeli actions in Gaza.
Starmer’s position on Gaza has also alienated some of his potential allies, such as Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London; Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, and Anas Sarwar, the leader of the party in Scotland, who have all urged him to call for a ceasefire.
The Gaza crisis has been described as one of the biggest challenges of Starmer’s leadership and one that could determine his fate in the next general election, which is expected to take place in 2024.
Some experts have suggested that he may face a leadership challenge or a coup from within his party if he does not change course and regain the trust and support of his base.
The recent developments could provide strength in reserve for the Conservative Party, as Labour continues to struggle with its self-implosion and failure to capitalise on recent gains.
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