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LONDON — It’s government reshuffle day in Westminster … again.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s latest ministerial rejig Monday came after he sacked Home Secretary Suella Braverman amid a bitter row over the policing of a pro-Palestinian march on the streets of London.
And he’s grabbed headlines around the world for bringing back former Prime Minister David Cameron from the political wilderness.
But who the heck are these people? POLITICO runs through the key changes in Sunak’s Cabinet so far — and how controversial they’re likely to be.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron
You may remember this guy. There was shock in Westminster Monday as the former prime minister — who resigned over the Brexit referendum in 2016 — marched through the door of No. 10 Downing Street to get his new job.
Having not been an MP since his resignation, Sunak has given Cameron a place-for-life in the House of Lords to do the job.
Controversy rating: 8/10. It’s a big move from Sunak — but not one without risk. Cameron was bruised by a 2021 lobbying scandal and will face scrutiny for his views (and post-government work) on China. Questions over his unelected role — and lack of scrutiny in the House of Commons — will also linger.
Home Secretary James Cleverly
James Cleverly replaced Braverman as home secretary on Monday, switching from the foreign secretary brief. Cleverly has been an MP for Braintree in Essex since 2015 and has served on the front benches of the last three prime ministers.
Controversy rating: 3/10. A former Conservative Party chair and proven political chameleon who is well-liked and has worked with wildly different leaders. A far cry from the outspoken darling of the right he replaces, Suella Braverman.
Environment Secretary Steve Barclay
Steve Barclay replaces Liz Truss-ally Thérèse Coffey in the environment brief, in what will be seen as a demotion from his previous role presiding over England’s massive National Health Service.
It’s the latest twist in a varied career. Barclay rose to prominence in Theresa May’s government as Brexit secretary. He was also health secretary under Boris Johnson — but only stayed in that role for two months, before being dumped from the Cabinet in Liz Truss’ short-lived administration. He returned to the top table when Sunak became prime minister.
Controversy rating: 3/10. A familiar face on the front bench. This will be Barclay’s sixth high-ranking role in six years, so at least he’s used to change.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins
Sunak ally Victoria Atkins moves on up from financial secretary to the Treasury to health secretary.
Atkins has been an MP since 2015 and resigned as a justice minister in the raft of exits that brought down Boris Johnson. She returned to government when Sunak became PM late last year. She has politics in her blood as the daughter of former Tory MP Robert Atkins.
Controversy rating: 3/10. A Sunak loyalist who lands a key front-bench gig after a long time in tricky ministerial posts.
Party chairman Richard Holden
Richard Holden gets a major gig teeing up the Tories for what will be a tough election fight expected next year as Conservative party chairman. He nabs the job from Greg Hands, who is off to take on a trade minister gig … for the fourth time.
Holden was previously roads minister and often went out to bat for the government on the tricky morning media round. It’s a role he can lean into as minister without portfolio, a government job that mixes attack dog and behind-the-scenes fixer.
He’s represented North West Durham since 2019, winning a seat that had been Labour-held since its creation. That experience could help the party hang on to seats it won under Boris Johnson in 2019 — although Holden’s seat itself is being abolished under boundary changes.
Controversy rating: 6/10. A punchy choice for the airwaves who’ll relish taking the fight to Labour — but replacing your party chairman so close to an election is a gamble for Sunak.
Chief secretary to the treasury Laura Trott
Taking over the role from John Glen (more on him below), Laura Trott moves into the Cabinet as chief secretary to the treasury.
She’s a former adviser to David Cameron (yep, him), credited with creating the Conservatives’ tax-free childcare policy. She even received an MBE in Cameron’s resignation honors. Trott’s been an MP since 2019 and — you guessed it — quit Boris Johnson’s government in anger. She endorsed Sunak’s leadership bid, and was handed a pensions minister role in his government.
Controversy rating: 4/10. A Cameron and Sunak ally with deep policy knowledge. Things could get a little dicey if the autumn statement — a big government spending event later this month — comes unstuck.
Paymaster general John Glen
John Glen moves to paymaster general in the Cabinet Office after a spell as chief secretary to the treasury.
Glen, elected in 2010, is a key Sunak ally and relative treasury veteran who was at one time tipped as Ben Wallace’s replacement as defense secretary. He dramatically quit his treasury role as Boris Johnson’s government collapsed.
Controversy rating: 3/10. Glen knows his way around the key central government departments and is unlikely to generate headaches for Sunak.
Other moves to watch
Okay this one is … not a move. But it could be controversial.
Jeremy Hunt is staying as chancellor, the top finance minister role in British politics. Hunt was drafted in to calm the markets as Liz Truss’ administration foundered, but he’s been criticized by some tax-cut-hungry Tories as too orthodox. Considering he’s got to deliver the set-piece autumn statement on November 22, it would have been a bit of a bombshell if he moved.
Rachel MacLean, meanwhile, left her post as housing minister. That makes her replacement Lee Rowley the 16th person being asked to solve Britain’s acute housing crisis in just 13 years.
This developing story is being updated.
