David Cameron made a shock comeback today as Rishi Sunak sacked Suella Braverman in a reshuffle described as 'trolling' the Tory Right. The PM moved to oust Ms Braverman as he tries to restore his authority with potentially less than a year to a general election. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, a close ally of Mr Sunak with less trenchant views on the European Convention on Human Rights, is taking over in the Home Office.

In a decision that sent an earthquake through Westminster, Mr Cameron has been handed Mr Cleverly's old role. He receives a peerage so he can assume the government post, because he is not an MP. He is the first member of the Upper House to hold the role since Lord Carrington in the 1980s, and the first ex-PM to return to Cabinet since Alec Douglas-Home in the 1970s. Just weeks ago Mr Cameron condemned Mr Sunak's decision to downgrade the HS2 rail project. He is deeply distrusted by the Tory right after heading the Remain campaign before quitting in 2016, and also fostered closer relations with China as premier.

In a statement, the now Lord Cameron said: 'We are facing a daunting set of international challenges, including the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East. At this time of profound global change, it has rarely been more important for this country to stand by our allies, strengthen our partnerships and make sure our voice is heard. While I have been out of front-line politics for the last seven years, I hope that my experience – as Conservative Leader for eleven years and Prime Minister for six – will assist me in helping the Prime Minister to meet these vital challenges.'

The sacking of Ms Braverman comes after an extraordinary week of rowing over handling of pro-Palestinian protests in London on Armistice Day. She drew the fury of No10 by lashing out at 'hate marches' and then penning an article accusing the police of bias without getting it cleared. Critics have blamed her for inflaming violence with far-right counter-protesters taking to the streets - although the Tories are badly split with supporters saying the grim scenes in the capital proved her right. The stunning developments were greeted with extreme sarcasm by one former minister in the right-wing ERG bloc. 'We're ecstatic. All we need is for Tobias Ellwood to be Defence Secretary and our joy will be complete,' they said.

A Tory aide said Mr Sunak was engaged in 'top trolling of the right'. Ex-Cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith, who has been sanctioned by China, said it was 'astonishing' to see Lord Cameron back. 'It suggests that Sunak is intent on doing business with China at all costs,' he said. MPs were further alarmed by arch-Remainer Lord Heseltine taking to TV to hail the return to the 'centre ground' and urge Mr Sunak to bring back George Osborne as well. A Downing Street source said: 'Rishi Sunak has asked Suella Braverman to leave government and she has accepted.' In an ominous response, Ms Braverman said: 'It has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve as Home Secretary. I will have more to say in due course.'

Ms Braverman had sounded defiance last night despite mounting speculation about her fate, releasing a statement saying pro-Gaza demos 'polluting' the streets with hate 'can't go on'. She slammed the 'valorising of terrorism' on Armistice Day and said further action was needed. Briefing out of No10 overnight suggested that the government is looking at toughening up the rules for police blocking such protests - which have been happening weekly in the capital. Having held off before the Remembrance weekend, Downing Street seems to have decided it must act before a key court judgment on the Rwanda policy on Wednesday. The government is braced to lose the case, with concerns that Ms Braverman might have attempted to burnish her credentials with the Tory right by quitting and demanding the UK leaves the European Convention on Human Rights. 

The Conservatives announced the reshuffle was starting with a message on social media saying Mr Sunak is 'strengthening his team... to deliver long-term decisions for a brighter future'. Other major jobs are expected to switch hands, with Health Secretary Steve Barclay and Environment Secretary Therese Coffey tipped as under threat. However, Jeremy Hunt is staying as Chancellor with barely a week until the Autumn Statement . Lower down the food chain, health minister Neil O'Brien and long-serving education minister Nick Gibb have announced they are leaving government. Another health minister, Will Quince, has quit ahead of standing down at the next election. Former minister Andrea Jenkyns said Ms Braverman had been 'sacked for speaking the truth', and it was a 'bad call by Rishi caving in to the left.'

Although Lord Cameron's comeback triggered sharp intakes of breath on the right, it was hailed by some of his former allies. Theresa May posted on the X social media site: 'Congratulations to @DavidCameron on his return to government. 'His immense experience on the international stage will be invaluable at this time of great uncertainty in our world. Looking forward to working together again!' Lord Cameron is the first former prime minister to return to government since Alec Douglas-Home. 

During the Cameron administration there was a 'golden era' of UK-China co-operation, something Mr Sunak described as 'naive' last year following growing tensions with Beijing. Lord Cameron had also been critical of Mr Sunak's decision to scrap the northern leg of HS2, while the PM used his Tory conference speech to distance himself from the legacy of his predecessors. But the former premier made clear he backed Mr Sunak and would work with him to help the Tories win the general election expected next year. The new Foreign Secretary said: 'Though I may have disagreed with some individual decisions, it is clear to me that Rishi Sunak is a strong and capable Prime Minister, who is showing exemplary leadership at a difficult time. I want to help him to deliver the security and prosperity our country needs and be part of the strongest possible team that serves the United Kingdom and that can be presented to the country when the general election is held. '

Mr Cleverly was asked if he wanted to distance himself from the language of his predecessor Ms Braverman. He told broadcasters: 'Well, I intend to do this job in the way I feel best protects the British people and our interests. I have had a very good conversation with the Prime Minister, who had made it very clear that he wants us to deliver on our promises to stop the boats, to protect the British people, make sure everybody feels secure in their lives.' News of Mrs Braverman's exit came as defence minister James Heappey was touring broadcast studios. Minutes before she was sacked, he had told LBC that Mr Sunak and his team in No 10 had been 'very clear she (Mrs Braverman) has his confidence and, in that sense, one would imagine that she will continue'.

But he was told on air during an ITV Good Morning Britain interview that she had been sacked, leaving him to say: 'Your viewers will be enjoying my discomfort, but it is in this case difficult to offer commentary when I just don't know what is going on.' Labour frontbencher Pat McFadden immediately seized on the return for Lord Cameron. 'A few weeks ago Rishi Sunak said David Cameron was part of a failed status quo, now he's bringing him back as his life raft,' he said. 'This puts to bed the Prime Minister's laughable claim to offer change from 13 years of Tory failure.' More than 100 arrests were made after clashes involving far-Right groups and pro-Palestine protesters in central London on Saturday. 

Mrs Braverman's intervention came as speculation rages about her political future after she clashed with Downing Street over a newspaper article, which critics said inflamed tensions. Ahead of Saturday's protest, the Home Secretary branded it a 'hate march' and accused officers of 'playing favourites' with protesters. Last night, amid rumours of a Cabinet reshuffle, she doubled down on her comments.

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