Cameron, who served as Britain’s Prime Minister between 2010 and 2016, was appointed Foreign Secretary in Rishi Sunak’s government, causing a Tory split, according to Politico.
It was part of a large-scale ministerial reshuffle in which Sunak sacked right-wing Suella Braverman as Home Secretary and appointed many of his closest allies to senior posts.
Cameron, who resigned after the 2016 Brexit referendum defeat, became Britain’s top diplomat. He was given a seat in the unelected House of Lords, which allowed him to take the position.
Sunak’s decision to return Cameron has provoked sharp divisions within the Conservative Party, which has little chance of electoral success, according to current polls.
One Tory MP stated that “this may actually turn out to be a masterstroke” by Sunak, proclaiming the Prime Minister’s policy “a return to the sensible middle ground.”
The acknowledgment that we fight elections from the center ground is basic but great news.
As leader of the Conservatives, Cameron helped his party return from years of political stagnation. In 2010, he formed a coalition with the centre-left Liberal Democrats to put an end to years of Labour rule. He also led a contested Scottish referendum in 2014 and then won a significant election victory in 2015, when many experts predicted a “hung” parliament.
Meanwhile, Conservative MPs holding seats in southern England hope Cameron’s return will prove popular with their constituents at the next election. However, the appointment has already angered some right-wing MPs in the party who suspect a shift to the left in Sunak’s government.
Some in Westminster have argued that disagreements over his performance after leaving office could lead to Sunak regretting bringing him back to the political frontbench.
Labour officials in Parliament quoted on Monday a statement by Greensill that Cameron’s appointment would ultimately harm the Tories.
It’s great for us — and plays perfectly into our attacks [on] about 13 years of Tory government. They’ll live to regret it, I’m sure.
Tory MPs, who have been sanctioned by Beijing for criticising its human rights record, are also concerned about what Cameron’s appointment means for Britain’s policy towards China.
As Prime Minister, Cameron proclaimed a “Golden Era” in relations with Beijing and even hosted President Xi Jinping for a state visit. Upon leaving office, Cameron became vice chairman of the UK-China Investment Fund. In September, he travelled to Sri Lanka to attract investment in a controversial port city built by the Chinese in Colombo, according to Politico.
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith stated:
“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.”
Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister who took office the same year as Cameron, welcomed his return with a post on X, formerly Twitter. He was joined in his remarks by several EU foreign ministers as the bloc’s diplomats tried to determine what the appointment would mean for UK-EU relations.
He is a bigger hitter purely as he is a former prime minister.
Cameron may help Sunak on the international stage, but the Conservatives question whether his appointment would cause more benefit than harm.
