David Cameron introduced to House of Lords after appointment as UK foreign secretary
Former British premier granted seat in House of Lords, paving way for his appointment as foreign secretary in Rishi Sunak's rejuvenated Cabinet
LONDON
In a surprising return to the forefront of British politics, former UK Prime Minister David Cameron was introduced to the House of Lords on Monday following his appointment as the new foreign secretary.
The announcement from Downing Street regarding Cameron's position indicated that he was promptly appointed as a life peer, granting him a seat in the House of Lords.
While it is theoretically possible to become a minister without being a member of either the House of Commons or Lords, in practice, non-MP ministers often take a seat in the House of Lords.
This marked a remarkable comeback for Cameron, who resigned from his position seven years ago in the aftermath of the Brexit referendum.
Last week, the territorial designation for his peerage was officially confirmed, and he will now be known as "Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton."
The full title, as revealed on Friday, is "The Rt Hon. the Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton," affirming Cameron's enduring connection to the Cotswold town of Chipping Norton.
Cameron was sworn into the Lords on Monday afternoon.
"I David, Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton, do swear by Almighty God, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God," he said.
The ex-premier was the one who paved the way for the 2016 Brexit referendum, as he had pledged a vote on the contentious issue during his 2015 election campaign.
Cameron resigned as leader of the Conservatives and prime minister in 2016 after losing the Brexit referendum, where he was leading the Remain camp.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s appointment of Cameron has widely been described as a move to please moderate lawmakers before next year’s general election in the UK.
In 2016, Cameron was also harshly criticized for the UK’s intervention in Libya alongside France, as a parliamentary committee said British policy in Libya before and since the intervention of March 2011 “was founded on erroneous assumptions and an incomplete understanding of the country and the situation.”
