Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Braverman more isolated over claim
SUELLA Braverman has grown increasingly isolated as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt distanced himself from the Home Secretary’s allegations of police bias over proPalestine protests.
Facing pressure to sack Mrs Braverman, Rishi Sunak continued to express his confidence in her, but No 10 declined to say whether the pair had spoken since her inflammatory unauthorised article.
No 10 said they were working “very closely” ahead of Saturday’s heavily-policed march, but chose not to repeat her widely-criticised language in a piece for The Times.
She claimed there is a perception police “play favourites” towards pro-Palestinian protesters who are “largely ignored, even when clearly breaking the law”.
The article prompted frustration and concern among Conservative MPs and sparked calls for the Prime Minister to dismiss her for failing to get sign-off from No 10.
Mr Hunt said he has a “productive relationship” with Mrs Braverman, but signalled Cabinet unease by telling reporters “the words that she used are not words that I myself would have used”. A Downing Street spokeswoman declined to endorse the Home Secretary’s comments and stressed that it is for police to “make operational decisions” surrounding protests.
The official said the Prime Minister “has confidence” in Mrs Braverman, but did not rule out a Cabinet reshuffle, saying she would not discuss “speculation”.
The spokeswoman repeatedly chose not to say whether the pair had spoken, but insisted “they work very closely, as they have been on protests and preparations for the weekend”.
The Home Secretary’s actions have added to tension around the march planned for today – Armistice Day – by pro-Palestinian groups, and the risk of counter-protests, particularly around the Cenotaph, even though the demonstration is not intended to go near the monument.
Scotland Yard will deploy nearly 2,000 officers across central London in a major policing operation over the weekend, with an exclusion zone for protesters imposed around the Cenotaph to prevent splinter groups congregating around national remembrance events.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign behind the demonstration anticipated more than 500,000 people would join their protest to back a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in what it billed as one of the largest political marches in British history.
Mr Sunak will need to decide whether the Home Secretary’s actions breached the ministerial code and, if so, whether he should sack her.
Senior officers and the head of the Crown Prosecution Service stressed the need for the police to be able to operate independently without political interference.
Education minister Robert Halfon said Mrs Braverman has a “unique way of expressing herself” but would not say whether he agreed with Mrs Braverman’s assessment of alleged police bias.
No 10 was still internally investigating the “details” about how the article – which contained a comparison between “pro-Palestinian mobs” and marches in Northern Ireland – was sent for publication. He has not referred the matter to ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus.
It is understood that the article was submitted to No 10 but did not get signed off as significant alterations were requested. The piece was published nonetheless.
Opposition parties called on Mr Sunak to sack the Home Secretary, with Labour calling him “spineless” for failing to act. Even some Conservative MPs believe that Mrs Braverman has gone too far.