Following David Cameron’s bombshell appointment as Foreign Secretary, Express readers have had their say about it and their position is clear.
Readers were asked: “Do you back David Cameron’s return to the cabinet as foreign secretary?
In the snap poll following the former PM’s appointment to the Foreign Office, a majority of Express readers came out against Rishi Sunak’s wildcard decision.
Of more than 10,000 participants, a whopping 8,627 said that they didn’t back the decision. While only 1,614 supported the move and 156 said they weren’t sure.
Mr Cameron is no longer an MP, however not sitting in the House of Commons doesn’t stop someone from being a member of the cabinet.
To make it possible to appoint Mr Cameron, the Prime Minister had to make him a peer. Number 10 confirmed that the former Prime Minister was to be made a lord in a statement, which read: “His Majesty has also been pleased to confer the dignity of a Barony of the United Kingdom for life upon David Cameron.”
David Cameron began his tenure as Foreign Secretary by meeting India’s external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
The Indian minister, who would have been expecting to meet with James Cleverly, said it was a “pleasure” to meet Mr Cameron on his first day in office.
Mr Jaishankar “congratulated him on his appointment” in a post on social media.
He added: “Held a detailed discussion on realising the full potential of our strategic partnership. Also exchanged views on the situation in West Asia, the Ukraine conflict and the Indo-Pacific. Look forward to working with him closely.”
The 57-year-old takes over from James Cleverly, who has moved to the Home Office to fill the vacancy left after Suella Braverman’s sacking.
Mr Cleverly has vowed to “stop the boats”, something his two predecessors failed to do.
Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle explained that he was taking advice on how MPs would be able to scrutinise Mr Cameron’s work as Foreign Secretary, given he does not have a seat in the House of Commons.
Sir Lindsay told MPs: “This is not the first time in recent years that a Cabinet minister has been appointed in the House of Lords, but given the gravity of the current international situation, it is especially important that this House is able to scrutinise the work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office effectively.
“I have therefore commissioned advice from the clerks about possible options for enhancing (scrutiny) of the work of the Foreign Secretary when that post is filled by a member of the other House.
“I also look forward to hearing the Government’s proposals on how the Foreign Secretary will be properly accountable to this House.”
