LIZ TRUSS’S Cabinet reshuffle has sparked alarm among human rights and green campaigners, with warnings of a further shift to the right.

As the new home secretary, former attorney general Suella Braverman reportedly wants to “double down” on her predecessor Priti Patel’s plans to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda and expand the detention of Channel-crossing asylum-seekers.

Campaigners fear Ms Braverman could prove “more disastrous” for refugees and migrants than Ms Patel, who during her three years at the helm of the Home Office sought to massively curtain the rights of asylum-seekers. 

“We would love to celebrate the ushering in of a more compassionate and fair-minded home secretary, but sadly Suella Braverman looks set to add fuel to the fire when it comes to cruel and senseless Home Office decision-making,” Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigration spokesperson Ravishaan Rahel Muthiah said.

Ms Braverman previously advocated for a complete withdraw from the European Convention of Human Rights, and for “eliminating” a defence to prevent people being deported to a country where they would be at risk of torture. 

Responding to her appointment, Freedom from Torture’s Kolbassia Haoussou said it suggests a “lurch even further to the right.”

“Braverman’s contempt for international law and promise to gut human rights legislation, including the absolute ban on torture, poses a threat to every one who values freedom and democracy,” he added. 

Campaigners also reacted with dismay at the appointment of Jacob Rees-Mogg to business and energy secretary, putting him in charge of the government’s legally binding target to reach net zero by 2015. 

The former Brexit opportunities minister has previously decried “climate alarmism” and played down the earthquake risk of fracking, as well as calling for fossil-fuel firms to be allowed to “get every last drop [of oil] out of the North Sea.”

Greenpeace UK head of politics Rebecca Newsom said Mr Rees-Mogg was the “last person who should be in charge of the energy brief,” pointing to his decision to push for cuts to incentives for solar, wind and energy efficiency. 

Friends of the Earth’s head of political affairs Dave Timms said the appointment was “deeply worrying,” adding: “Extracting more fossil fuels is a false solution to the energy crisis.”

Ms Truss’s ruthless reshuffle has also seen former equalities minister Kemi Badenoch promoted to international trade secretary, and Therese Coffey, the former work and pensions secretary, moved sideways to lead the Department of Health and Social Care. 

The role of chancellor has been handed to Kwasi Kwarteng and justice secretary to Brandon Lewis, taking over from Dominic Raab, who has been booted out of the Cabinet.