“GOD, No,” snapped one MP. “Outrageous!” snapped another.
Was it impassioned commentary on Fiscal Phil’s anti-austerity Budget or a decisive move in those painfully protracted Brexit negotiations? No.
It seems David William Donald Cameron is “bored s***less” and wants to come back to Whitehall.
Life, it appears, during the months at the bottom of the Cameron garden in the Cotswolds, holed up in his £25,000 shed, writing his political memoirs and life thereafter has been somewhat drab for Dave and the former premier, at just 52, wants to return to the cut and thrust of British politics – post Theresa May and post Brexit.
One source told The Sun: “David is dedicated to public service and has often said he wouldn’t rule out a public role, domestically or internationally. He is still a young man.”
The former Conservative leader, who departed the political stage after losing the EU referendum in spectacular fashion, is, say friends, not against a return to Cabinet once his successor in Downing St departs No 10; which, of course, could be anytime in the next six months, weeks or even days. It is thought he has his eyes on becoming Foreign Secretary; often regarded as Government’s most glamorous job.
Since his departure, Mr Cameron has been busy globetrotting on the lecture circuit and, wisely, has stayed totally silent on the psychodrama he left behind. His memoirs, worth a reputed £800,000 to the ex-PM’s bank balance, is due out next autumn; three years after the Brexit vote that has left Britain a broken country.
While it was suggested that other friends of Mr Cameron dismissed the reports as rubbish, the idea of a return of the former Downing St incumbent rustled the Westminster village grapevine. Social media was aquiver, particularly from Labour MPs.
Andrew Gwynne, the Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary, was aghast at the prospect of a political comeback by the Old Etonian. "God. No. Didn't he do enough damage first time round?? Please spare us all," he tweeted.
His parliamentary colleague Anna Turley, who represents Redcar, said: "The sense of entitlement is unreal. Please go away and think about what you've done."
Angela Rayner, the Shadow Education Secretary, tweeted: "Just when you thought politics couldn't get any more bizarre. No David, please stay in retirement; you caused enough damage last time."
Fellow Labour MP Yvette Cooper was equally dismissive, telling social media: "What, because it worked out so well last time? Man, you ripped up our closest international partnership. By accident. That makes you even worse than Boris Johnson."
Tom Watson, the Opposition’s deputy leader, told Good Morning Britain: “It’s outrageous. That guy ran away from a referendum result that he imposed on the country and he had a responsibility to take us through Brexit and the negotiations.
"To just sort of consider coming back as if it’s an entitlement was actually part of the problem we had with David Cameron in the first place."
The tersest response came from Emily Thornberry, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, who simply posted a facepalm emoji; a picture used to display frustration or embarrassment at a certain situation.
Meanwhile, Downing St was a little frosty on the prospect of its former boss’s return.
No 10, asked if the PM thought her predecessor would make a good Foreign Secretary, replied: “Whether he chooses to seek to return to frontline politics or not is entirely a matter for him.”
So far, Mr Cameron has kept mum on talk of his political comeback.
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