DAVID Cameron has admitted his return to frontline politics is "unusual" - but insists he's ready to face "daunting challenges".
In a dramatic twist, the 57-year-old ex-PM was today granted a peerage by King Charles - allowing him to accept a role as Foreign Secretary.
Mr Cameron replaced James Cleverly, who has taken over from Suella Braverman as Britain's new Home Secretary following Rishi Sunak's decision to remove her from the role.
In another shocking twist, Esther McVey has returned to the Cabinet as the PM's "common sense tsar", tasked with tackling the scourge of wokery.
Speaking about his appointment today, Mr Cameron said: "I know it's not usual for a Prime Minister to come back in this way but I believe in public service.
"The Prime Minister asked me to do this job and it's a time where we have some daunting challenges as a country, the conflict in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine.
"Of course, I hope that six years as prime minister, 11 years leading the Conservative Party, gives me some useful experience and contacts and relationships and knowledge that I can help the Prime Minister to make sure we build our alliances, we build partnerships with our friends, we deter our enemies and we keep our country strong.
"That's why I'm doing the job and happy to accept."
On a seismic day of change at No10...
He added: "On the whole, as an ex-prime minister, I've tried to keep quiet about politics, stay out of politics. It's hard enough being prime minister without having your predecessors endlessly giving a running commentary.
"But of course I have disagreed with some individual decisions, but politics is a team enterprise.
"I have decided to join this team because I believe Rishi Sunak is a good Prime Minister, doing a difficult job at a hard time.
"I want to support him, I'm a member of the team. I accept the Cabinet collective responsibility that comes with that."
Pressed on the Greensill controversy, Lord Cameron insisted the matter was "in the past".
He said: "The most important thing I've done since leaving office is act as president of Alzheimer's Research and to raise millions of pounds and help our scientists get closer to a diagnosis and a cure, something that affects almost a million people in our country.
"Today I resign from all of those things, from all of the businesses I have been helping.
"The other things I've been doing, including being a professor at NYU, that all stops - I now have one job, as Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom and I am very proud to work with our Prime Minister to try and make sure our country be as secure and as prosperous as possible."
Pressed again, Lord Cameron added: "All those things were dealt with by the Treasury Select Committee, and other inquiries at the time.
"As far as I am concerned, that is all dealt with and in the past. I now have one job, as Britain's Foreign Secretary."
And asked on not being able to be held to account in the Commons, he continued: "I will be held to account in the House of Lords where I will have to account for myself and for the government.
"And of course Andrew Mitchell and a very talented team of ministers at the Foreign Office will be held to account in the House of Commons.
"I will appear in front of the House of Commons Select Commitee as appropriate. And of course this government, my role in it... all of that will be held accountable to the electorate at the General Election when it comes."
Earlier, the ex-PM said that while “I may have disagreed with some individual decisions” made by Rishi Sunak, he “is a strong and capable Prime Minister”.
Mr Cameron added: "We are facing a daunting set of international challenges, including the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East.
"At this time of profound global change, it has rarely been more important for this country to stand by our allies, strengthen our partnerships and make sure our voice is heard."
“While I have been out of front-line politics for the last seven years, I hope that my experience – as Conservative Leader for eleven years and Prime Minister for six – will assist me in helping the Prime Minister to meet these vital challenges."
Mr Sunak said the Cabinet reshuffle had built a "united team".
In a post on Twitter/X, the Prime Minister said: "Today we have built a united team ready to deliver the changes this country needs for the long term.
"Professionalism, integrity and experience - this is a team that will be bold in making the right decisions for our great country, not the easy ones."
Mr Sunak rushed to anoint Mr Cameron with a peerage so he could step into the role.
Because Mr Cameron is not an MP, he is only allowed to return to the Cabinet if he becomes a member of the House of Lords.
With the approval of King Charles, the former PM is now a Barony of the United Kingdom for life.
Ms Braverman was sacked earlier today amid accusations she fuelled violent Armistice Day clashes by slamming Met Police chiefs.
She sparked outrage late last week after talking to The Times to accuse the Met of favouring left wing pro-Palestine and BLM protesters over right-wing marches.
But Ms Braverman came out swinging this morning - vowing to "have my say" moments after being axed by Mr Sunak.
Amid speculation he would quit the Cabinet, Jeremy Hunt will stay on as Chancellor.
Greg Hands was moved from Conservative Party Chair to business minister.
He was replaced in CCHQ by 2019er and Red Wall MP Richard Holden.
Therese Coffey left government after meeting with the PM this morning.
She'll be replaced at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by demoted Steve Barclay.
And Vicky Atkins will step up to the role of Health Secretary.
In a statement the now ex-Environment Secretary, who has served as a minister since 2014, said: "I have written to the Prime Minister today to step down from government.
"It has been a privilege to serve him and indeed 5 Conservative Prime Ministers as a minister.
"I look forward to continuing to serve my constituents of Suffolk Coastal."
Meanwhile, Health Minister Neil O'Brien, a chief architect of the new smoking ban, quit his role.
Paymaster General Jeremy Quinn and veteran Schools Minister Nick Gibb stood down from the government.
Amid a rental and mortgage crisis, Rachel Maclean was fired as Housing Secretary, leaving the role open for the 16th time since the Tories took power.
Ms Maclean said: "I’ve been asked to step down from my role as Housing Minister.
"Disappointed and was looking forward to introducing the Renters Reform Bill to Committee tomorrow and later the Leasehold and Freehold Bill.
"It has been a privilege to hold the position and I wish my successor well."
She was replaced by Lee Rowley who will leave his local government minister role.
A No10 spokesperson said: "This reshuffle will give the PM a united team to deliver the change this country needs for the long term."
Mr Cameron’s return as Foreign Secretary marks an extraordinary comeback for a politician widely believed to be yesterday’s man.
After calling and losing the Brexit referendum in 2016, he fell on his sword to quit both as PM and an MP.
But Mr Cameron had retired as one of youngest ex-PMs in history and clearly felt he had more to give when he told pals in 2018 he was “bored s***less”.
Mr Sunak will hope to draw on his wealth of experience, often overshadowed by his legacy-defining Brexit gamble.
Ex-PM Theresa May, Mr Cameron's successor in No10, said: "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!"
Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock added: "Brilliant decision by the PM to make David Cameron Foreign Secretary.
"Superb for Britain - bringing his experience to guide us through difficult times.
"Excellent for the Conservatives, showing Rishi Sunak will fight the election on the centre ground."
AS BIG reveals go, it does not get more dramatic than Rishi Sunak’s breakfast bulleting of Suella Braverman and the Lazarus-like return of former Prime Minister David Cameron.
The long-awaited government reshuffle would have already been explosive enough, but when those familiar pink cheeks were spotted getting out of an armoured Land Rover, Westminster went into meltdown.
The only person in the Cabinet to have ever won a Tory leadership election and a general election is not the PM, but the Foreign Secretary.
Sunak will play up “Dave’s” decades of experience and will be delighted to bring back a big hitter, while quietly ignoring the fact he was attacking him over HS2 just a few weeks ago.
Yet while dramatic it is not a decision without massive dangers for the PM.
Cameron was the poster boy for Remain and some argue his storming off in 2016 when he didn’t like the result is part of the reason the Tories got into such a mess for so many years.
To bring him back on the same day that the leading light of the Tory right is sent to the backbenches, is a big signal from the centre on the direction of travel No10 wants to go now.
Many on the right have never forgiven Cameron’s behaviour during his “Project Fear” referendum campaign, while some on the Tory left think his catastrophic error of judgement was letting the vote ever take place.
And his foreign policy record is chequered, to say the least.
The lack of preparation for Brexit ahead of the 2016 vote was a national scandal and his “Golden Era” of close relations with China is now known in Whitehall as the Golden Error.
And MPs have already raised eyebrows over his branding of Gaza as an “open air prison” in 2012, given the current tensions in the region.
While his contentious military action in Libya and failed attempts to bomb Syria blot his copybook, he was in charge when the RAF joined an international coalition to rout ISIS.
And he got one very, very big call right: the decision to start training Ukrainian troops in 2014.
Quite where all this leaves Sunak’s conference pledge to be a candidate of change, remains to be seen.
But that is playing second fiddle today, to No10’s delight in pulling off what they see as a major coup.
Responding to the shock comeback, Pat McFadden MP, Labour’s National Campaign Coordinator, said: “A few weeks ago, Rishi Sunak said David Cameron was part of a failed status quo, now he’s bringing him back as his life raft.
“This puts to bed the Prime Minister's laughable claim to offer change from 13 years of Tory failure.”
Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: "David Cameron was a disastrous PM.
"This is a last gasp act of desperation from a government devoid of talent and ideas.
"Amid international crisis, Sunak has chosen an unelected failure from the past who MPs cannot even hold to account.
"Only Labour offers the change we need."
It comes as the PM today sparked a fresh Tory civil war and sent the right of the party into meltdown as he sacked Ms Braverman.
Already one MP has sent a letter of no confidence into 1922 backbench committee chair Sir Graham Brady.
Dame Andrea Jenkyns, a staunch ally of Boris Johnson, said: "Enough is enough, I have submitted my vote of no confidence letter to the Chairman of the 1922.
"It is time for Rishi Sunak to go and replace him with a 'real' Conservative party leader."
DAVID Cameron’s return as Foreign Secretary marks an extraordinary comeback for a politician widely believed to be yesterday’s man.
After calling and losing the Brexit referendum in 2016, he fell on his sword to quit both as PM and an MP.
For a while he appeared to have vanished without trace - famously provoking a foul-mouthed rant from Danny Dyer as having left the country in the lurch with his “trotters up”.
His only glimpse of the limelight was negative headlines surrounding his relationship with dodgy financier Lex Greensill
But Mr Cameron had retired as one of youngest ex-PMs in history and clearly felt he had more to give when he told pals in 2018 he was “bored s***less”.
Allies even suggested he could become Foreign Secretary - an offer now grasped years later by Rishi Sunak.
The PM will hope to draw on his wealth of experience, often overshadowed by his legacy-defining Brexit gamble.
After a period as a government adviser in the John Major years, Cameron rose the ranks in opposition to become Tory leader in 2005.
He secured the most votes in 2010 but fell short of a full-out majority, striking an historic coalition deal with Nick Clegg’s Lib Dems.
Gambling and winning two referendums on voting reform and Scottish independence, he fought the 2015 election on shoring up the economy and vowing to hold an EU referendum.
Sneaking a narrow Tory majority and cutting the Lib Dems loose, he held the in/out vote in 2016 advocating to Remain.
During the campaign he angered Brexiteer Tories for scaremongering with “Project Fear” doomsday warnings.
And so when the people went the other way, Mr Cameron felt he had no choice but to quit, waving goodbye to No10 with his wife Samantha and three children.
Until now…
Ex-minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg fumed: “Firing her is a mistake – she understood what the country wanted and needed in terms of migration, and I think it raises questions about the seriousness of the Government in tackling illegal migration”
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith slammed the appointment as “astonishing”, arguing it sent a message that the UK is ready to business with communist China “at any costs”.
He told The Times: “Those of us who are sanctioned by China and face attacks online day after day are astonished at the signal this sends.
“It suggests that Sunak is intent on doing business with China at all costs and that the regime’s appalling murderous behaviour will be pushed into the background."
Ex-Levelling Up Secretary Simon Clarke described the reshuffle as "controversial, to put it mildly".
He added: "Never wise to lack options on the right wing - the squad risks being badly unbalanced."
A No 10 source said the PM "asked Suella Braverman to leave Government and she has accepted".
Over the weekend, Ms Braverman came out swinging amid growing calls for her to quit.
But today she said: "It has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve as home secretary."
She added: "I will have more to say in due course."
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly was seen entering No 10 following news of Mrs Braverman’s exit.
The departing Foreign Secretary is the first appointment in a sweeping shake-up of his top team by the PM currently underway.
Sunak has continued to reshuffle the more junior ranks of his Government, appointing Nigel Huddleston as financial secretary to the Treasury and Andrew Griffith as a minister in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
He also added Jo Churchill in the Department for Work and Pensions, Damian Hinds in the Department for Education and Andrew Stephenson in the Department of Health and Social Care.
In his speech to the Lord Mayor's Banquet, Sunak made reference to his dramatic cabinet reshuffle today.
He said that 2023 "has delivered one of the most significant years for British foreign policy...due in no small part to James Cleverly".
He added that in his new role, Mr Cameron "will build on everything we have achieved" this year.
News of Mrs Braverman’s exit came as defence minister James Heappey was touring broadcast studios.
Minutes before she was sacked, he had told LBC that Mr Sunak and his team in No 10 had been "very clear she (Mrs Braverman) has his confidence and, in that sense, one would imagine that she will continue".
2001
David Cameron is elected MP for Witney, Oxfordshire - a position he goes on to hold until 2016
2005
He becomes Tory leader with the backing of Boris Johnson and George Osborne
2010
Mr Cameron becomes one of the youngest-ever Prime Ministers, at 43, after replacing Gordon Brown. He forms an historic coalition with Nick Clegg's Lib Dems - which lasts until 2015
2015
The PM is re-elected with a majority verdict in the General Election
2016
Keeping his election manifesto promise, Mr Cameron holds the Brexit referendum. The Remainer is forced to resign as PM after the public votes to leave the EU. He is replaced by Theresa May#
2023
He makes sensational return to front-line politics as Foreign Secretay
But he was told on air during an ITV's Good Morning Britain interview that she had been sacked, leaving him to say: "Your viewers will be enjoying my discomfort, but it is in this case difficult to offer commentary when I just don’t know what is going on."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: "Suella Braverman was never fit to be Home Secretary. Rishi Sunak knew this and he still appointed her.
"It was the Prime Minister’s sheer cowardice that kept her in the job even for this long.
"We are witnessing a broken party and a broken Government, both of which are breaking this country."
