On October 26th, Rishi Sunak revealed his top cabinet, promising stability hours after becoming Britain’s first prime minister of color.
According to CNA, the senior members of Sunak’s cabinet are Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, Interior Minister Suella Braveman, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, and House of Commons Leader Mordaunt Penny.
The 55-year-old Jeremy Hunt, the Finance Minister, managed to keep the position his former boss Liz Truss gave him 11 days ago when she was trying to salvage her failing premiership. He has so far been able to soothe the markets after her terrible budget last month, but he will need to draw on all of his vast experience to continue calming the tumultuous environment.
The 53-year-old James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, is the first black top diplomat in the United Kingdom. He is an army reservist with the rank of a lieutenant colonel who served for two years as a junior minister of international affairs after working earlier in the department in charge of Brexit. He was also appointed during Truss’ premiership.
The 42-year-old Suella Braveman, Interior Minister, is a favorite of the British conservative right for her jabs at “woke” politics and other extreme viewpoints. She makes an unexpected comeback just days after leaving the same job under Truss. Indian-born Braverman’s parents lawfully immigrated to Britain from Kenya and Mauritius in the 1960s. She fiercely supports the government’s intention to transfer migrants who cross the Channel illegally to Rwanda, which is presently the subject of a court dispute.
The 48-year-old Ben Wallace, Defense Secretary, has led the ministry since July 2019. Prior to that, he served as the Security Minister. He is internationally recognized for his role in organizing Britain’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Wallace’s prior military service as a Scots Guards officer and leadership of a parliamentary group promoting relations with Iran has helped him in his current position. He is well-liked by the party’s grassroots, and in the recent political turbulence, he has consistently come out on top in polls of their preferences for a new Conservative leader.
The 49-year-old Mordaunt Penny, House of Commons Leader, has held a number of high-ranking positions in the UK government, but she is still not well-known outside of Westminster and the ruling Conservatives. Mordaunt, who was most recently Sunak’s opponent for the leadership, continues to serve as House of Commons Leader, a position regulating parliamentary proceeding.