Investigation Underway Regarding Braverman's Ministerial Code Violation

Rishi Sunak has distanced himself from Suella Braverman after she claimed that senior police officers show favoritism towards left-wing protesters. Downing Street is currently investigating whether the Home Secretary broke the ministerial code with her comments made in a newspaper article ahead of an anti-Israel march on Saturday.

Refusal to Tone Down Article Leads to Disapproval

Despite being urged by No10 to tone down the piece, Braverman refused, prompting Sunak to disown her. The Chancellor, however, has resisted calls to immediately sack her.

Claims of Police Bias Towards Protesters

In her article for The Times, Braverman stated that aggressive right-wing and nationalist protesters are met with a stern response, while pro-Palestinian mobs who engage in the same behavior are largely ignored. She suggested that senior police officers have a perception of playing favorites when it comes to protesters.

Political Reactions Vary

Labour criticized Braverman's comments as "dangerous," warning that they could escalate tensions before the Armistice Day march. Party leader Sir Keir Starmer accused her of being "out of control." On the other hand, Conservative MPs Miriam Cates and Sir John Hayes expressed support for Braverman's language, claiming it reflects public sentiment. Another senior Tory MP emphasized her importance to the party for connecting with grassroots Conservatives who fully endorse her views.

Minister Scully Condemns Braverman's Comments

Tech minister Paul Scully criticized Braverman, stating that her comments only fuel hatred. Meanwhile, another Tory MP suggested that Prime Minister Boris Johnson appeared weaker than his predecessor Liz Truss, who previously dismissed Braverman for using a personal email account.

Breaking the Convention on Police Independence

Former Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Tom Winsor argued that Braverman crossed the line by questioning police independence, a convention that should be upheld. Downing Street reiterated that the Prime Minister firmly believes in the police operating without fear or favor.