Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom has fired Home Secretary Suella Braverman on Monday, following her controversial comments accusing the police of being too lenient with pro-Palestinian protesters. The decision came as part of a Cabinet shuffle implemented by Sunak to revamp his top government team. Braverman’s replacement is James Cleverly, who previously served as foreign secretary.
In response to her dismissal, Braverman expressed gratitude for her time as home secretary and hinted at having more to say in the future. However, her departure was not unexpected, as Sunak faced mounting pressure to remove her from her position. Braverman, known for her hard-line stance and popularity within the authoritarian wing of the Conservative Party, held one of the most senior roles in the government, responsible for immigration and policing.
Braverman’s troubles began when she launched an unusual attack on the police, accusing London’s police force of turning a blind eye to the actions of “pro-Palestinian mobs.” She went as far as describing demonstrators advocating for a cease-fire in Gaza as “hate marchers.” These remarks drew criticism, particularly after far-right protesters clashed with police while attempting to confront a large pro-Palestinian march in London.
Adding to the controversy, Braverman wrote an article for the Times of London, published without prior approval from the prime minister’s office, in which she claimed that the police displayed favoritism towards certain protest groups. She argued that pro-Palestinian and Black Lives Matter supporters received more lenient treatment compared to right-wing protesters or soccer hooligans.
The 43-year-old lawyer has gained prominence within the Conservative Party’s populist wing by advocating for stricter immigration controls and challenging human rights protections, liberal social values, and what she calls the “tofu-eating wokerati.” Last month, she referred to migration as a “hurricane” that would bring uncontrollable and unmanageable immigration to the UK.
During her tenure as home secretary, Braverman championed a controversial plan to send asylum-seekers arriving in Britain by boat to Rwanda on a one-way trip. The legality of this policy will be determined by a ruling from the UK Supreme Court on Wednesday.
Critics argue that Braverman has been actively raising her profile in preparation for a potential party leadership contest, which could arise if the Conservatives lose power in the upcoming election, expected next year. Recent opinion polls consistently show the Conservative Party trailing behind the opposition Labour Party by 15 to 20 points.
Correction: The scuffle between far-right protesters and the police occurred on Saturday, not Friday as previously mentioned.
