Gavin Williamson leads rogues’ gallery of controversial cabinet comebacks

Several ministers who left under a cloud are back at the top table of government (Picture: EPA/Getty)

Sir Gavin Williamson has made an unlikely political comeback after being sacked by Boris Johnson over the exams fiasco during the pandemic.

He is one of several familiar faces who have been kicked out of government before only to be brought back into the fold by Rishi Sunak.

The Staffordshire MP was also ousted by Theresa May after he was accused of leaking sensitive documents relating to Huawei and 5G.

Mr Williamson, who denied that allegation, has been a supporter of Rishi Sunak behind the scenes on two leadership campaigns and is rewarded with a government job.

He will serve as a minister without portfolio, meaning he will work across government.

The controversial MP has garnered a reputation as an influential political operative in Westminster but will be remembered by voters as the man who oversaw the Covid-19 exams fiasco.

Pupils were left distressed and unsure of whether they’d get the grades they needed after turmoil over how the system would be managed through the pandemic.

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The controversial ex-minister has got his feet under the cabinet table again (Picture: EPA)

Mr Williamson is one of several ex-ministers to be thrown a lifeline by the new prime minister and brought back into the cabinet.

Michael Gove was given back the levelling up job, which Boris Johnson removed him from for ‘disloyalty’ in the dying days of his administration.

He was denied a spot in Theresa May’s first government for the same reason and declared his frontline politics over less than two months ago.

Suella Braverman returns to the Home Office just a week after being forced to resign over a security breach.

Labour accused Mr Sunak of putting ‘party before country’ by reappointing the home secretary so soon after she admitted breaking the ministerial code.

Two months ago, Michael Gove said he was done with frontline politics for good – but is back in his old job (Picture: PA)

Boris Johnson sacked him and Liz Truss denied him a cabinet spot – but Robert Jenrick is back under Rishi Sunak (Picture: PA)

Andrew Mitchell, who was memorably sacked after being accused of calling a Downing Street police officer a pleb, has been handed his old international development brief.

Robert Jenrick, who was kicked out of cabinet after a turbulent two year stint as local government and housing secretary, is back at the top table and will be in charge of immigration.

Oliver Dowden, who was forced to resign as party chair following bruising by-election defeats in June, is back as a cabinet office fixer.

There’s also a second return to veteran’s affairs portfolio for Johnny Mercer, who was sacked from the job by Ms Truss – and who resigned from the same post in 2021.

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