David Cameron made a shocking return to frontline politics after the Rishi Sunak conducted a huge cabinet reshuffle before Christmas.
Mr Cameron entered his position as Foreign Secetary more than seven years after resigning the day after losing the 2016 Brexit referendum.
As a private citizen who has not been an MP since 2016, Cameron joined the unelected House of Lords in order to take up the role — giving him the title of Lord Cameron.
Studying the body language between the former leader and the current Prime Minister, an expert says Rishi Sunak is “allowing himself to be eclipsed” by David Cameron, and the former Prime Minister is “implying instant control”.
David Cameron sat directly across from Rishi Sunak beaming across the room during the first cabinet meeting.
Judi James, speaking to Paddy Power Games said it looked as though the two men were on opposing teams: “Rishi’s first cabinet meeting with Cameron made it look as though the ex-PM had just eased himself back into the saddle. He was given a seat directly opposite Rishi, forming a mirror-image effect that seemed to offer a choice of leaders to the viewer.
“The seat directly opposite also implies challenge and conflict. It looked as though the two men were on opposing teams.”
Ms James believes Rishi’s leadership presence “is not strong” with his body language low on status and authority signals.
As David Cameron’s leadership signals are both high in amiability and status, the body language expert believed it looked like Cameron was returning “in a leadership role”.
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Judi James added: “Cameron used his body language to flex his power muscles by one very simple technique. While the others, including Rishi sat back in their seats in a more passive mode, Cameron leaned forward with his forearms on the table, standing out from the group and looking as though he was running the briefing.”
The body language expert reveals there is a way Mr Sunak’s communication team could have helped position and frame him to look more like a leader when greeting the South Korean leader during his state visit to the UK.
Ms James said: “Height doesn’t necessarily matter but Rishi and his comms team should have avoided this visual scene as Cameron, Rishi and Cleverly all walked together to meet the South Korean leader. Placing Rishi in the middle between two exceptionally tall men was a massive error.”
“Rishi should have been at the end closest to the cameras because Cameron and Cleverly would have been seen looking together at him as he spoke, instead we have Rishi looking up between both men to listen to them.”
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