Rishi Sunak was appointed Britain’s new prime minister on Tuesday and then announced his cabinet’s first top ministerial posts. As announced by his office at 10 Downing Street in London, Sunak is leaving the current one Treasury Secretary Jeremy Hunt in the key post that is important in the current crisis. His close allies Dominic Raab appointed Sunak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice. In his first speech, Sunak had previously stated that he wanted to unite the country “not with words, but with deeds”.
James Cleverley remains as reported foreign minister in office, as well as Ben Wallace as Secretary of Defense – and this despite the fact that both had previously supported ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s candidacy for party chairmanship. Suella Braverman becomes Home Secretary again, after resigning from her post just a week ago. The reason for her resignation was that she used her private e-mail address for business e-mails. At the same time, she mentioned “serious concerns” about the government policies of then Prime Minister Liz Truss.
Rishi Sunak signals continuity in the cabinet
The appointment of the ministers is seen as an important signal of continuity in Sunak’s government work after the short, chaotic tenure of his predecessor Truss. For example, the 55-year-old Hunt is considered an experienced and balancing politician. The former foreign and health minister is in the political center of the conservative party.
Hunt was appointed just 11 days ago by Truss, who was doing so in an attempt to calm the financial market turmoil caused by her controversial relief and tax cut plans. Since his appointment, Hunt has reversed nearly all of Truss’ announced tax cuts and announced other difficult moves.
Dominic Raab’s appointment marks the 48-year-old’s return to a top position in government. Raab was Foreign Minister from 2019 to 2021 and then Minister of Justice until September last year.