Musical chairs

Welcome to the new cabinet, same as the old cabinet

For a few brief hours yesterday, the UK dared to hope that things would indeed be different this time, as new prime minister Rishi Sunak admitted “that mistakes had been made” by his predecessor. Only for him to go and repeat one of her most egregious errors by reappointing Suella Braverman as home secretary.

On the steps of Downing Street, standing behind a shorter and sturdier lectern, Sunak promised “integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level” of government. His speech gave the appearance of an improvement on the last two occupants of Number 10.