James Cleverly replaces Suella Braverman as home secretary after PM sacks her in reshuffle

Suella Braverman has been sacked as home secretary – with James Cleverly appointed as her replacement.

She was asked to leave the job this morning by Rishi Sunak.

Mr Cleverly, who had been foreign secretary, was moved to take over the Home Office brief.

Follow live for updates and analysis on reshuffle

Shortly after, former prime minister David Cameron was appointed foreign secretary – and handed a “barony” so he can serve in government again.

A former prime minister returning to government in this way is highly unusual.

In a statement released after her sacking, Ms Braverman said: “It has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve as home secretary. I will have more to say in due course.”

Mr Cleverly later said: “It’s been a huge privilege to serve as foreign secretary. And in that time, I’ve worked very closely with my colleagues in the Home Office cracking down on illegal migration, reducing the number of small boat arrivals.

“And now, as the home secretary, I’m absolutely committed to stopping the boats, as we promised, but also making sure that everybody in the UK feels safe and secure, going around, going about their daily business, knowing that the government is here to protect them. So it’s a fantastic job and it’s a real privilege to serve.”

Asked if he would distance himself from the words used by his predecessor, he added: “Well, I intend to do this job in the way that I feel best protects the British people and our interests.

“I have had a very good conversation with the prime minister, who’s made it very clear that [he] wants us to deliver on our promises to stop the boats, to the British people, make sure everybody feels secure in their lives. Thank you very much.

Today marks the second time Ms Braverman has lost the job of home secretary – after she resigned from Liz Truss’s government breaking the ministerial code. Mr Sunak reappointed her less than a week later when he took over as prime minister.

Last week, Ms Braverman wrote a newspaper article that accused the police of “playing favourites” as she criticised the Metropolitan Police’s handling of a controversial pro-Palestinian march for Armistice Day.

The prime minister came under pressure to act after Ms Braverman was accused of undermining the operational independence of – and public confidence in – the police.

Critics, from both opposition parties and fellow Tory MPs, called Ms Braverman’s comments “offensive” and “inflammatory”.

She had also come under criticism in previous weeks for saying that homeless people living in tents was a “lifestyle choice”.

Sky News deputy political editor Sam Coates has heard it was these comments that tipped the prime minister over the edge.

Read more:
Tory party’s most divisive politician is out – but won’t be last we hear from her
Braverman’s long list of controversies

Over the weekend, far-right protesters clashed with police in Westminster. Elsewhere, pro-Palestinian marches also ended with arrests.

Speaking to Sky News this morning, armed forces minister James Heappey became the latest member of the government to distance themselves from Ms Braverman’s words – joining Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge

Sky News Monday to Thursday at 7pm.
Watch live on Sky channel 501, Freeview 233, Virgin 602, the Sky News website and app or YouTube.

Tap here for more

In a post on the Conservative Party’s social media, it claims Mr Sunak’s reshuffle today “strengthens his team in government to deliver long-term decisions for a brighter future”.

But the move to sack Ms Braverman will anger some in the party. Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns said on X: “I support Suella Braverman. Sacked for speaking the truth. Bad call by Rishi caving in to the left!”

On the other side of the debate, some MPs welcomed the change in direction. Former health secretary Matt Hancock said: “Excellent for the Conservatives, showing Rishi Sunak will fight the election on the centre ground.”

As well as Ms Braverman being sacked, a number of junior ministers also left government.

Nick Gibb, who has been a minister in the Deparment for Education for much of the past decade, announced he was standing down.

Neil O’Brien said he had asked to return to the backbenches from his role as a junior minister in the Department for Health and Social Care.

Will Quince also announced that he would step down as a junior minister in DHSC, and Jesse Norman said he would be standing down as a DfT minister.

Yvette Cooper, Labour’s shadow home secretary, said: “Suella Braverman has now been sacked twice as home secretary.

“Rishi Sunak [should] never have re-appointed her in first place. He was warned against it & was warned on the damage she was doing.

“He went along with her undermining the police. Buck still stops with this weak PM.”