British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak convened the first meeting of his new Cabinet, before confronting the opposition in Parliament for the first time as a leader on Wednesday,
In an effort to address Britain’s numerous economic issues, Sunak assumed office on Tuesday and immediately named a government that included both allies and seasoned ministers, from the administrations of his two immediate predecessors, Liz Truss and Boris Johnson.
The lineup, according to Sunak’s office, “reflects a cohesive party” and strives to “guarantee that there is continuity at the center of government at this uncertain moment.”
Opposition politicians will likely focus on the baggage the new ministers bring from the governments of Johnson, who resigned in July after a string of ethics scandals, and Truss, whose administration lasted just seven weeks, during the regular House of Commons session known as Prime Minister’s Questions.
Last month, Truss unveiled a package of unfunded tax cuts that frightened financial markets with the possibility of skyrocketing debt, sent the pound to record lows, and compelled the Bank of England to step in, weakening Britain’s already-fragile economy and destroying Truss’ standing within the Conservative Party.
Conservatives view Sunak as a reliable partner who they believe can stabilize a nation’s economy and reverse the party’s declining popularity.
For his Cabinet, Sunak selected members from various Conservative Party factions. He dismissed about a dozen members of Truss’ administration, but he retained a number of key figures, including Ben Wallace, the defense secretary, and James Cleverly, the foreign secretary.
Suella Braverman, the former home secretary who resigned last week after breaking ethics laws by sending a crucial government email from a personal account, is facing criticism for his decision to reappoint her. Truss’ demise was accelerated when she attacked her in the resignation letter.
Braverman, a prominent member of the Conservative Party’s right-wing who enrages liberals, is tasked with carrying out a contentious, blocked proposal to send some asylum seekers entering the United Kingdom on a one-way flight to Rwanda.
The opposition was shocked that Braverman could return to work less than a week after quitting and before an investigation into her violation of the ethical regulations.
Cleverly justified the decision.
He admitted to the BBC that “people make mistakes in their profession.” Nobody enters the workplace intending to make a mistake.
Jeremy Hunt, the Treasury secretary Truss hired two weeks ago to calm the markets, was also retained by Sunak. It is possible that his removal would have caused fresh earthquakes.
Hunt will shortly outline the government’s strategy for raising billions of pounds (dollars) to close a budgetary gap brought on by high inflation, a weak economy, and Truss’ unsettling ambitions.
Hunt’s statement that was to be made on October 31 has been rescheduled to November 17.
