David Cameron has used his first speech to the House of Lords as Foreign Secretary to mock Boris Johnson's hopes of a political comeback.
Ripping into his former Bullingdon Club pal, Lord Cameron said he had no intention to "take back control" after his own shock return to the government in Rishi Sunak's reshuffle last week.
It came after the ex-PM was formally welcomed to his role in the upper chamber as Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton. In his maiden speech on Tuesday, Lord Cameron, who quit No10 in 2016 hours after the Brexit vote, said it was a "surprise" to be asked to return to government.
Mocking Mr Johnson he said: "It was a surprise to be asked. I have not been sitting like some latter-day de Gaulle at Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises waiting to be asked, how shall I put it, to take back control.
"Nor am I Cincinnatus hovering over my plough. I leave all classical allusions, and indeed illusions for that matter, to another former prime minister with whom I shared a number of educational experiences."
In his farewell speech outside No10 last September Mr Johnson sparked speculation that he hoped to return to frontline politics as he compared himself to the 5th Century Roman statesman Cincinnatus.
"Like Cincinnatus, I am returning to my plough and I will be offering this Government nothing but the most fervent support," Mr Johnson said at the time. Mr Johnson, who studied Classics at Oxford University, did not mention Cincinnatus later returned from his farm to lead Rome for a second time during a period of crisis.
Addressing peers in the House of Lords, Lord Cameron also joked the upper chamber was a "significant upgrade" from his "now-infamous shepherd's hut". During his time in the political wilderness the former Tory leader purchased a £25,000 hut to write his memoirs detailing his time in No10.
He said on Tuesday: "It is truly an honour to stand here at this despatch box and make my maiden speech in this House. I have always respected the work that is done here, so often a patient, diligent and considered compliment to the other place.
"And I hope to play a full part in your Lordships' House." He added: "When I look at the ornate, carved wooden panels that surround us and compare them to my now-infamous shepherd's hut, I can tell you this is already a significant upgrade".
Lord Cameron also insisted he will answers questions from peers on a monthly basis while the Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell will deputise for him in the Commons. He said he is "happy to consider other appropriate mechanisms so that Parliament is able to scrutinise all the work of my department".
He noted that he is not the first peer to sit in the Cabinet - with Lord Mandelson, Lord Adonis and Lord Frost also doing so in recent times. The former prime minister said: "Lord Mandelson sent me a particularly charming welcome, but he pointed out that I am a comeback novice and this is only my first one compared with his three.
"I suppose my response should be that to make three comebacks you need both his prodigious talent and you need to be sacked twice by the Prime Minister, which is a fate I'm hoping to avoid."