Following the shock return of David Cameron as Foreign Secretary, many suspect he will figuratively “take over” from current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
When a car driving Suella Braverman’s replacement to 10 Downing Street, no one expected former Prime Minister David Cameron to step out of the passenger seat.
Channel 4 Political Editor Gary Gibbon said, “no one saw this coming”.
“We thought he moved on to the Madame Tussaud’s waxworks of faded British political life,” he told The Hard Shoulder.
“That moment when his car comes up Downing Street and he emerges from the darkened windows is one that many of us won't forget.”
Indeed, few could contain their surprise as Mr Cameron entered Downing Street, including two Sky News reporters, who’s live reaction to his arrival summarises the feelings of most people.
BREAKING: Former PM David Cameron has been seen entering Downing Street amid a government re-shuffle.
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— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 13, 2023
Mr Gibbon, however, said people now need to “chew on” whether this actually has any political significance for the Conservative Party and the UK Government.
“I think people around Rishi Sunak are hoping that it’ll look like there's an adult in the room,” he said.
“It might also have some cut through in the ‘Blue Wall’... the traditional Tory seats which Lib Dems are creeping up on in the South and the west of England.
“There's a suggestion that he has some message for those people - the whole party looks a bit more centred than sometimes it sounds if he's in the front row of the photos.”
'He will take over authority'
Former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe said Mr Cameron might actually “take over from Rishi”.
“Figuratively, obviously,” she said.
“He can't take over in the actuality, but he will take over the authority, he will take that away from Rishi Sunak.
“Rishi has failed to cut through that has been a source of enormous disappointment to me.
“Cameron will give extra emphasis to the divisions that are already between the blue wall and the red wall.”
Mr Cameron in the House of Lords
Mr Cameron’s also shocked some due to the fact he is not an elected MP. He will be made a life peer, giving him a seat in the House of Lords, in order to become Foreign Secretary.
Ms Widdecombe said that doesn’t give her any misgivings to the democratic process, as it is long-held tradition in the UK.
“That doesn’t worry me, and that’s probably my age talking,” she said.
“I can remember when members of the House of Lords held cabinet office – Lord Carington for example, and there’s been plenty of others.
“Just because it hasn’t happened in a few years, I’m not wary of that.”
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