Rishi Sunak has distanced himself from Suella Braverman after she made controversial comments suggesting that senior police officers show favoritism towards left-wing protesters. Downing Street is now investigating whether the Home Secretary violated the ministerial code in an article published before an anti-Israel march on Saturday.
Sunak refuses to sack Braverman
Despite calls to dismiss Braverman immediately, Rishi Sunak has chosen not to sack her. He has faced criticism for not taking action against the Home Secretary, especially after she refused to comply with No10's request to tone down her article.
Braverman's claims
In her article for The Times, Braverman argued that aggressive right-wing and nationalist protesters are met with a stern response, while pro-Palestinian demonstrators who engage in similar behavior are largely ignored. She stated that there is a perception that senior police officers play favorites when it comes to handling different protest groups.
Reactions to Braverman's comments
The Labour Party has described Braverman's remarks as "dangerous" and warned that they could exacerbate tensions ahead of the Armistice Day march. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer criticized her, stating that she is "out of control." However, some members of the Conservative Party, including Miriam Cates and Sir John Hayes, have supported Braverman, claiming that her language reflects public sentiment. Tech minister Paul Scully, on the other hand, accused her of fueling hatred.
Mixed opinions within the Conservative Party
While some Tory MPs believe that Braverman is crucial to the party and resonates with grassroots Conservatives, others think that her comments are divisive. One MP even suggested that Prime Minister Boris Johnson appears weaker than his predecessor Liz Truss, who sacked Braverman for using a personal email account.
Criticism from former Chief Inspector of Constabulary
Former Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Tom Winsor criticized Braverman for breaking the convention of not questioning police independence. He argued that she had crossed a line with her comments.
Downing Street responded to the controversy, stating that the Prime Minister continues to have faith in the police to operate impartially and without bias.
