“By the time he lined up alongside Rishi Sunak at the Cenotaph on Sunday morning, David Cameron already knew he was on his way back to government. The former prime minister had been approached a full week earlier about returning as Foreign Secretary and had not hesitated for long. But as he stood stony-faced in Whitehall he gave no clue that he was about to make the most dramatic return to government since Peter Mandelson was recalled by Gordon Brown 15 years earlier. Mr Sunak was also giving nothing away. When he was approached by Mrs Braverman at the Cenotaph service for a brief conversation he was ‘non-committal’ about her future. Less than 24 hours later he picked up the phone to inform her that her Cabinet career was over – at least for now.” – Daily Mail
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>Today: ToryDiary: What can we learn about Cameron’s foreign policy view from his record as Prime Minister?
“Rightwing Tories have met after Rishi Sunak sacked Suella Braverman as home secretary, with one MP publishing a formal letter of no confidence in the prime minister. Andrea Jenkyns, a noted supporter of Boris Johnson who served as schools minister under Liz Truss, tweeted her letter to the party’s backbench 1922 Committee, saying: “Enough is enough … It is time for Rishi Sunak to go and replace him with a ‘real’ Conservative party leader.” Braverman supporters stressed they did not expect significant immediate pushback against a cabinet that took a notable step to the centre with her departure and the unexpected return of David Cameron, but the former home secretary is unlikely to stay quiet.” – The Guardian
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>Yesterday: ToryDiary: Sunak circles the wagons
“Esther McVey has been handed a cabinet-level job as Rishi Sunak’s “common sense” tsar in an attempt to shore up his support on the right of the party. Her return to the government for the first time since 2020 will see the Liverpudlian GB News presenter lead what insiders described “the anti-woke agenda”. The move will be seen as an olive branch to Suella Braverman’s supporters — particularly those in the Common Sense Group, which closely aligned to the ousted home secretary. McVey was given the official title of minister without portfolio, permitting her to have a wide brief and attend cabinet. She will be deployed in broadcast interviews in the run-up to the election to help shore up support in the “red wall”, which some Conservative MPs fear Sunak is neglecting.” – The Times
“Rishi Sunak has appointed the Tories’ sixteenth housing minister in today’s reshuffle since the party seized power in 2010. The Prime Minister faced a major backlash across the political divide as there was a further change of personnel in the vote-winning issue. Cabinet Minister Kemi Badenoch vented her frustration at the sacking saying she was “very sorry” to see Rachel Maclean leave to be replaced by Lee Rowley. She said: “Very sorry to see you leave government, You were an excellent, minister, always attentive to MPs and their constituents and got some very tricky legislation over the line!” The message was then retweeted by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove amid widespread anger across government.” – The Sun
>Today: ToryDiary: Reshuffle Live Blog. Leadsom returns to government as an Under-Secretary of State at Health.
>Yesterday: Parliament: Our list of Conservative MPs standing down at the next election. Gibb the latest to announce.
“The Labour party will conduct a sweeping review of the UK’s pension system to find ways of unlocking billions of pounds worth of retirement fund capital for the country’s growth if it wins the next general election, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has said. Speaking a week before the Autumn Statement, Reeves unveiled a series of measures that went further than proposals set out so far by chancellor Jeremy Hunt to boost British long-term pension investment in UK businesses. The UK pension market is among the largest in Europe and worth about £2.5tn, according to government analysis. However, British pension funds have largely shunned UK-listed equities and small unquoted companies in favour of offshore markets and domestic gilts.” – FT
“The SNP has given Scottish civil servants an extra hour a week to chill out – at the expense of the taxpayer. The Wellbeing Hour pilot scheme encourages officials to reduce their stress levels by taking time out of their working day with no reduction in pay. Activities suggested under the new scheme include walking, reading, yoga, and painting. While this may be better for the employees it cuts their working week to just 36 hours and is reportedly costing the taxpayer £7million. Following its introduction, critics of the scheme have asked whether it is worth the money as the Scottish Sun estimated it could cost taxpayers £7 million per year… Although the scheme has proved controversial, this isn’t the first scheme of its kind introduced by devolved governments.” – Daily Express