UK PM Rishi Sunak effects Cabinet reshuffle, sparks controversy over Suella Braverman

*British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak states there is need to bring ‘stability to our economy and our public finances, deliver long-term prosperity for everyone in our country, and continue to sustain and strengthen the Union’

*SNP hit out at new Cabinet, describing it as ‘dangerous’

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Newly installed British Prime Minister (PM) Rishi Sunak has culled 11 Ministers in Cabinet reshuffle after assuming office at No. 10, Downing Street Tuesday, October 25, 2022.

Sunak culled almost a dozen of for PM Liz Truss’s top-tier Ministers Tuesday after vowing to fix the “mistakes” of her leadership and bracing the nation for “difficult decisions”, STV News report said.

The new UK Prime Minister also revived the frontbench careers of Dominic Raab and Suella Braverman, who were reportedly forced out under Truss, but kept Jeremy Hunt as Chancellor after the Conservative leader warned the UK is facing a “profound economic crisis” in his first speech since being appointed by the King.

It is noted that Hunt, brought in by Truss to rescue the economy after her disastrous mini-budget, warned “it is going to be tough” ahead of his Halloween financial statement.

The PM as well re-appointed Alister Jack as secretary of state for Scotland, saying he wanted to “sustain and strengthen the Union.”

Sunak stated: “We are facing very significant challenges both at home and abroad, and there is much to be done.

“We need to bring stability to our economy and our public finances, deliver long-term prosperity for everyone in our country, and continue to sustain and strengthen the Union.

“We will build on our track record of supporting families and businesses in Scotland, and investing millions directly into Scottish communities.”

PM sparks controversy over cabinet reshuffle

Following the changes in the British Government cabinet he met on the ground, the SNP has hit out at Rishi Sunak’s new Cabinet, calling it “dangerous”.

Kirsten Oswald, the SNP’s Westminster Deputy Leader, said: “Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet of Truss re-treads makes the case once again, that independence is the only route to escape Westminster chaos for good.

“From a Justice Secretary who doesn’t believe in the Human Rights Act or economic and social rights to a fired then rehired Home Secretary with a twisted dream of deporting vulnerable people.”

Oswald also stated that “a dangerous Cabinet imposed upon Scotland by the new unelected, out-of-touch, law-breaking Prime Minister.

“It’s beyond any doubt that only with the full powers of independence will we be able to escape the Tory chaos, Tory-made economic crisis, and build a fairer, more prosperous society.”

Nonetheless, Boris Johnson loyalists who stayed close to Truss, including Jacob Rees-Mogg, were among the 11 ministers who were out of government, according to report.

Raab was rewarded with Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, roles he held under Johnson before being sacked by Truss for his support of Sunak.

The PM, however, demoted Grant Shapps to business secretary to allow Braverman’s return as Home Secretary less than a week after she launched an attack on Truss when she was forced out of the role over a breach of the Ministerial Code.

Penny Mordaunt came out of the reshuffle as Commons leader, failing to win a promotion after she challenged Sunak in the Tory leadership race, which he won without a vote being cast.

Allies of Sunak benefited, with Mel Stride appointed work and pensions secretary and Oliver Dowden becoming chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster having resigned as party chairman after a disastrous double by-election loss under Johnson, report said.

Therese Coffey, one of Truss’s closest friends in Westminster, was demoted from deputy PM and health secretary to become environment secretary.

James Cleverly was kept on as foreign secretary and Ben Wallace as defence secretary, showing Sunak was not entirely breaking with the past two administrations.

Simon Hart was brought in as chief whip to restore party discipline, with Sunak having warned the party: “Unite or die.”

Simon Clarke and Kit Malthouse followed Rees-Mogg out of the Cabinet as close allies of Johnson who stayed close to Truss.

Michael Gove returned to the Cabinet as levelling up secretary after being dramatically sacked by Boris Johnson in July.

More than an hour after Truss defended her economic strategy in her farewell speech from Downing Street on Tuesday morning, Sunak stood outside No. 10 criticising her brief tenure.

The new PM said his predecessor, whose 49 days in office made her the shortest-lasting PM in history, was “not wrong” to want to drive up growth, describing it as a “noble aim”.

Sunak stated: “But some mistakes were made. Not born of ill will or bad intentions – quite the opposite in fact. But mistakes nonetheless.

“I’ve been elected as leader of my party and your Prime Minister in part to fix them – and that work begins immediately.”

The cost of Government borrowing dropped and the British Pound soared to the highest level since before Truss’s disastrous mini-budget.

Sunak, 42, became the UK’s first Hindu PM, the first of Asian heritage and the youngest for more than 200 years when he was appointed by Charles at Buckingham Palace.

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