The return of Suella Braverman to the role of home secretary was “the one contentious name” in Rishi Sunak’s cabinet reshuffle, says a former key aide to ex-prime minister Theresa May.
Braverman was forced to step down on what became the final chaotic day of Liz Truss’ premiership, after admitting two data breaches.
But Gavin Barwell, Downing Street’s former chief of staff, says he can “entirely understand” why Sunak felt it important to include Braverman, as she represents a Eurosceptic wing of the party.
Her appointment was “the most difficult” choice for Sunak, Barwell tells BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Overall, Barwell says Sunak managed a “good reshuffle” yesterday – and “avoided the mistake” of filling his top team with “purely friends and allies”.
The biggest challenge for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will be the economy. It’s an issue which will define his time in power, certainly over the next few months.
The chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, is due to deliver his medium term plan for the economy on Monday. He’s been trying to plug a fiscal black hole of up to £40bn. Spending cuts, budget squeezes and tax rises are all on the table.
But might it be delayed? Sources in No 10 and the Treasury say it’s a decision the PM and chancellor still have to make. They’re due to discuss it today.
You can see why the new PM might want time to look at the details. The choices the government makes will be controversial and will cause political rows.
But there is a lot of pressure to make a decision soon. The Bank of England is to make its next interest decision next Thursday – many Tory MPs want more clarity before then.
It’ll be a busy first full day in office for Rishi Sunak, who faces his first Prime Minister’s Questions – also known as PMQs – later on.
PMQs is a high-profile weekly event in UK politics, happening every Wednesday at noon when the House of Commons is sitting.
For around half an hour, the prime minister is called to the despatch box in the Commons chamber to answer questions from MPs on any subject.
The leader of the opposition gets to ask six questions – normally the rowdiest part of the spectacle.
Backbench MPs – including those from the governing party – are also able to raise their own queries, and there is great competition each week to get the chance to be called.
The event is infamously nerve-wracking for prime ministers – former PM David Cameron spoke of his “total fear and trepidation” while trying to second-guess what he’d be asked about each week.
Opinions have been divided in recent years on PMQs – some saying it encourages healthy debate; others arguing it represents little more than a political slanging match filled with sloganeering. [BBC News]