New foreign secretary David Cameron has insisted he will be accountable for decisions in his role as he is being urged to "urgently reset" the UK Government's position on Gaza ahead of a debate in the Commons tomorrow - at which cannot take part.
The former prime minister made a shock return to the Cabinet yesterday in the key role as Rishi Sunak carried out a reshuffle sacking Suella Braverman as home secretary as he prepares for a general election expected next year.
The Downing Street announcement said that the former prime minister was immediately being made a life peer and would sit in the House of Lords.
Both moves caused controversy with Lord Cameron's appointment attacked by opposition parties while Ms Braverman's dismissal angered MPs on the right of the Conservative party.
READ MORE: Fury as David Cameron to escape regular questioning by MPs
The SNP and Labour seized on the newly appointed Lord Cameron's return pointing out he will escape having to face regular grillings in the Commons because of his position in the House of Lords.
He will not face the regular sessions of Foreign Office questions, with more junior ministers instead fielding questions in the lower chamber.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn was among the first to criticise the appointment.
"Truly remarkable that during a time of huge international unrest, not least in Ukraine and Gaza, the House of Commons will not be able to directly scrutinise the work of the actual Foreign Secretary. The UK is not a serious country," wrote Flynn on X, formerly Twitter.
Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy also criticised the situation, which will also mean that major statements are either made first in the Upper Chamber by Lord Cameron or by a less senior minister in the Commons.
Mr Lammy said that during an “international crisis”, Mr Sunak “has chosen an unelected failure from the past who MPs cannot even hold to account”.
Ahead of an expected debate and vote on Gaza in the Commons tomorrow, the SNP has called on Lord Cameron to back an immediate ceasefire.
The motion is being tabled by the SNP as an amendment to the King’s Speech and is expected to pile pressure on Labour with UK party leader Sir Keir Starmer rejecting calls for a ceasefire, while Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has supported calls for one.
Calls for an immediate ceasefire are backed by the United Nations.
Brendan O'Hara MP, the SNP foreign affairs spokesman, said Lord Cameron "must not repeat the same mistakes he made when he disregarded international law and voted for the Labour Party government's disastrous and illegal Iraq war".
READ MORE: Suella Braverman sacking prompts backlash on Tory right
"The appointment of a new foreign secretary gives the UK government the opportunity to urgently reset its shameful position on the siege of Gaza and back SNP calls for an immediate ceasefire," he said.
"David Cameron must not repeat the same mistakes he made when he disregarded international law and voted for the Labour Party government's disastrous and illegal Iraq war.
"Thousands of innocent civilians, including women and children, have been killed as a result of the bombardment of the Palestinian people, which is also illegal under international law.
"An immediate ceasefire is the only way to stop this collective punishment, prevent war crimes and protect the lives of children and civilians.
"On Wednesday, MPs will get the first opportunity to vote for a ceasefire, and I urge the UK government to join the UN and international community in calling for a ceasefire now."
In his first interview since his appointment Lord Cameron said last night he will be held accountable properly in his new role, despite not facing regular questioning from MPs in the Commons.
“I will be held to account in the House of Lords where I have to account for myself and the Government,” he said.
READ MORE: Yousaf welcomes Braverman sacking as Scottish politicians react
He said Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell and others will be held to account in the Commons.
Lord Cameron said: “Of course, this Government, my role in it, all of that will be accountable to the electorate at the general election when it comes but in the meantime, I want to do everything to strengthen our alliances, to work with our friends, to build those vital partnerships, to make sure our country is secure and prosperous in a difficult and dangerous world.”
He acknowledged it was “not usual” for a former prime minister to return to frontline politics in the way that he has but added “I believe in public service".
He told broadcasters: “I know it’s not usual for a prime minister to come back in this way but I believe in public service.
“The Prime Minister asked me to do this job and it’s a time where we have some daunting challenges as a country – the conflict in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine.
“Of course, I hope that six years as prime minister, 11 years leading the Conservative Party, gives me some useful experience and contacts and relationships and knowledge that I can help the Prime Minister to make sure we build our alliances, we build partnerships with our friends, we deter our enemies and we keep our country strong.
“That’s why I’m doing the job and I’m delighted to accept.”
He added that he would be bound by collective responsibility now that he is a member of the Cabinet, but acknowledged that there had been disagreements in the past with Mr Sunak, notably on HS2.
In a day of high drama James Cleverly shifted from the Foreign Office to replace Ms Braverman as Home Secretary. Victoria Atkins was appointed health secretary, with Steve Barclay moving to environment.
Theresa Coffey, a key ally of former PM Liz Truss, resigned as environment secretary.
Jeremy Hunt and Oliver Dowden remain in the respective roles of Chancellor of the Exchequer and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, while Alister Jack stays as Secretary of State for Scotland.
In a move late yesterday Esther McVey was handed a cabinet-level job as Mr Sunak’s “common sense” tsar in an attempt to shore up his support on the right of the party.
Her return to the government for the first time since 2020 will see the Liverpudlian GB News presenter lead what insiders described “the anti-woke agenda”. The move will be seen as an olive branch to Ms Braverman’s supporters — particularly those in the Common Sense Group, which is closely aligned to the ousted home secretary.
Ms McVey was given the official title of minister without portfolio, permitting her to have a wide brief and attend cabinet. She will be deployed in broadcast interviews in the run-up to the election to help shore up support in the “red wall”, which some Conservative MPs fear Mr Sunak is neglecting.
Interviewed this morning new Tory chairman Richard Holden praised “plain-speaking” Ms McVey.
Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he accidentally name-checked former home secretary and fellow right-winger Suella Braverman as he praised the new minister.
Mr Holden said that Ms McVey was a “plain-speaking northerner from Merseyside, I think she’s a great addition to the broad team.
“What Suella…. ”
Today presenter Nick Robinson asked him if that was a Freudian slip.
Appearing on BBC television this morning Mr Holden also stressed the need for unity across the Conservatives after backbench MP Dame Andrea Jenkyns submitted a no confidence letter in the Prime Minister.
Her letter came amid anger from some on the right of the party at Mr Sunak’s apparent pivot to the centre ground in his reshuffle.
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