Suella Braverman – latest: Tory civil war over home secretary police row as Sunak urged to sack her
Leaked WhatsApp messages reveal divided Tory party as MPs clash over home secretary’s protest comments
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Rishi Sunak is facing a Tory civil war as he is urged to sack Suella Braverman over her controversial comments ahead of the pro-Palestine march today.
The home secretary has been accused of stirring “hatred and division” after she claimed the police are biased.
But her job is on the line after Downing Street made clear that it had not approved an extraordinary article in which she accused officers of playing favourites over a pro-Palestine march on Armistice Day.
No 10 says it is investigating after it demanded that changes be made to the piece but the request was ignored. As the home secretary’s claims sparked a furious outcry, one Conservative minister broke ranks to accuse her of fuelling “hatred and division”.
Now, leaked WhatsApp messages between Tory MPs reveal discord in the party as Braverman backers and supporters exchanged heated messages on her comments on the police.
Meanwhile, George Osborne, the former Tory chancellor, said the prime minister risked looking weak if he decided not to axe Ms Braverman.
Tory deputy chair condemns ‘dangerous’ Braverman remarks
MP Nickie Aiken, a deputy chair of the Conservative Party, said Ms Braverman’s comments were dangerous.
“The police should never be involved in politics, and politicians should never get involved in policing operations. The police must police without fear or favour, and it is a very dangerous precedent to state otherwise,” she told The Guardian.
“These protests should not be stopped by political whim.”
Downing Street declines to give views on Braverman
Downing Street has declined to offer any update on Suella Braverman after the publication of her controversial article accusing police of “playing favourites” with pro-Palestinian protesters.
A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said No 10 was still looking into what happened after the article was published without getting sign-off from Downing Street.
She declined to say when there might be an update or whether it was a breach of the ministerial code.
Rishi Sunak today hosted a reception in Downing Street to celebrate Diwali.
Starmer stands by rejection of ceasefire call
Sir Keir Starmer has said his rejection of calls for a ceasefire in the Middle East still stands after a Labour frontbencher resigned in protest.
The Labour leader admitted his party was divided on the issue but said there was unity in “condemning the terrorist attack by Hamas” and “being clear about Israel’s right to self-defence”.
Imran Hussain MP said he was quitting his role as a shadow minister to be able to “strongly advocate” for a cessation of hostilities.
Sir Keir said: “There is a division on whether we should call for a humanitarian pause, which is my position as I’ve set out very, very clearly, and some who think we should have a ceasefire, which again I’ve rejected very clearly.
“But this is not a usual political divide because what people are yearning for is a reduction of the terrible events that we’re seeing, the innocent deaths we’re seeing in Gaza, and that’s why a humanitarian pause is so important.”
Tory whips ‘ringing MPs to ask views on Braverman’
Journalist Christopher Hope of GB News said Tory MPs have told him that government whips are now ringing round backbenchers to ask for their views on Suella Braverman’s comments.
Which suggests she is in serious trouble, writes political correspondent Adam Forrest.
Labour ask Sunak whether Braverman broke ministerial code
A Labour MP has written to the prime minister highlighting how No 10 did not clear Ms Braverman’s article before it was sent.
Pat McFadden asked Mr Sunak both whether it was a breach of the ministerial code and what he would do about it, adding: “To say that the article was not cleared and then do nothing about it would strip you of all authority over the home secretary and leave her free to continue to do and say whatever she likes with no fear of sanction from you.”
It would be a display of weakness and “an extraordinary situation” for a government, Mr McFadden said.
IDF strike Lebanon building 'used by Hezbollah militants’
Watch:
IDF strikes building in Lebanon they claim Hezbollah militants used
Video released by Israeli Defense Forces on Wednesday, 8 October, showed several aerial views of targets being hit which they claimed to be infrastructure belonging to the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel's military said the strikes were carried out in response to launches towards northern Israel over the past few days. Hezbollah has been trading fire with Israeli forces at the Lebanese border since 8 October, one day after Hamas attacked Israel. On Monday, IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the military will continue to have a "significant response" every time Israel is fired upon.
Home Office minister says police discussions should be private
A Home Office minister has waded into the row over the policing of protests, telling parliament that “in a perfect world” such conversations should be held in private and insisting Scotland Yard was “doing a good job”.
Lord Sharpe’s comments appear to put him at odds with Suella Braverman, who wrote a less-than-private article in The Times accusing the Metropolitan Police of “applying a double standard” to how it deals with demonstrations.
Home secretary unfit for office, claims Palestine Solidarity leader
The director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign claims Ms Braverman’s arguments are “further evidence of her unfitness for office”.
Ben Jamal accused the home secretary of trying to “delegitimise” calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and “support for the rights of the Palestinian people by defaming those marching for peace as ‘hateful’ and terrorist sympathisers”.
He added: “Rishi Sunak bears responsibility for her being in office and for his own irresponsible remarks which have added to a climate of division and greenlighted far-right activists seeking to disrupt people’s right to protest.
“Hundred of thousands of people will ignore these efforts at intimidation and march for peace and justice on November 11.”
The Independent has asked the Home Office to respond.
No 10 contradicts home secretary over police bias claim
A Downing Street official spokesman has contradicting Suella Braverman’s claims of police bias, saying: “The Prime Minister continues to believe that the police will operate without fear or favour.”
But Mr Sunak still has full confidence in the Home Secretary, the spokesman said.
He declined to offer judgment on whether she broke the ministerial code, which states that “all major interviews and media appearances, both print and broadcast, should also be agreed with the No 10 press office”.
Watch: Sunak too weak to sack Braverman, says Keir Starmer
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