David Cameron’s return to frontline politics has sparked one of those big days on social media, with memes born and unvarnished commentary flowing.
The former prime minister has been handed the job of foreign secretary as part of the major shakeup of Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government.
Cameron’s unlikely comeback was in effect at the expense of divisive home secretary Suella Braverman, who was sacked to be replaced by foreign secretary James Cleverly.
Cameron stepped down as an MP in 2016 at the same time as he resigned as prime minister following the Brexit referendum. The 57-year-old will take a seat in the unelected House of Lords, which allows him to step into the foreign secretary role. In an interview, Cameron admitted a former PM returning to the cabinet is “unusual”.
While professional Westminster watchers chewed over the news of “Lord Dave”, and whether it represented Sunak’s fortunes rising or falling, social media users had some more esoteric takes.
On a Mumsnet chat forum, among the claims that it represents a “complete, total and utter shitshow” and “an indication that there isn’t currently anyone in the Tory party in the Commons or the Lords who is capable or willing to do the job”, one comment stood out. “It’s like taking off your underwear, turning it inside out and putting it back on again,” wrote TropDrôle, which was soon shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.
#Mumsnet users on the return of David Cameron ????https://t.co/syCyNP0zWEpic.twitter.com/oWK0jXjFml
— Mumsnet (@MumsnetTowers) November 13, 2023
david cameron walking into the staff canteen pic.twitter.com/kG1VwcTK8i
— Lucy (@LMAsaysno) November 13, 2023
“It looks like U.K. politics has hit its lowest point…BAH GAWD, that’s David Cameron’s music!” pic.twitter.com/0o9BKeGTZa
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) November 13, 2023
When David Cameron announced "hug a hoodie", he was playing the long game pic.twitter.com/H14RGgviCB
— Sascha O'Sullivan (@saschaosullivan) November 13, 2023
has there ever been a more misplaced flame emoji https://t.co/VRcHciTXQs
— lauren o'neill (@hiyalauren) November 13, 2023
Never forget pic.twitter.com/54uWmWwTGK
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) November 13, 2023
https://t.co/D0zeIVv3GPpic.twitter.com/0vV1gsCnuM
— Moya Lothian-McLean (@mlothianmclean) November 13, 2023
Rishi Sunak is brave to hire a man who messed up so badly that Rishi Sunak became prime minister
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) November 13, 2023
David Cameron rocking up at No.10 pic.twitter.com/7pt0n1Elrt
— Eugene (@eugeneh84) November 13, 2023
Suella Braverman has been sacked / David Cameron is back pic.twitter.com/UK2BrleWhg
— Grace (@graceyldn) November 13, 2023
Nadine Dorries seeing David Cameron just being handed a peerage pic.twitter.com/f4Pu7kvzO4
— Toby Earle ???????? Threads tobyontv (@TobyonTV) November 13, 2023
Ahhh, genius…
— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) November 13, 2023
The man who broke Britain. https://t.co/YmdmVKV1Cv
350 Conservative MPs, and Sunak doesn't think any of them are skilled enough to be Foreign Secretary. https://t.co/3vGgkmZstx
— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) November 13, 2023