Rishi Sunak under pressure to sack Suella Braverman over Palestine remark

The furore followed an opinion piece Braverman wrote regarding “hate marches” being held in London over the ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza. Thousands of protesters have been gathering in London every weekend, rallying for a ceasefire to the month-old Israel-Hamas war which has killed over 1,400 Israelis and at least 10,000 Palestinians to date. Another large rally is expected on Saturday, the anniversary of the end of World War One.

Sunak had termed the timing of the rally as “provocative and disrespectful” and said that he would hold the Met Police chief Mark Rowley “accountable” for allowing the rally to take place. Meanwhile, Rowley has said any ban would require intelligence of a threat of serious disorder and that so far that threshold had not been crossed.

Braverman, in the article published in the British daily The Times on Wednesday, had accused Metropolitan officers of taking a softer stance towards left-wing causes.

“I do not believe that these marches are merely a cry for help for Gaza,” Braverman wrote, adding, “They are an assertion of primacy by certain groups — particularly Islamists — of the kind we are more used to seeing in Northern Ireland.”

The 43-year-old, who is in charge of policing, said that there is “a perception that senior police officers play favourites when it comes to protesters”.

Sunak’s office responds

Sunak’s Downing Street office, when asked to comment on the contents of the article, said, “It was not agreed by Number 10.” When asked if the PM still had confidence in Braverman, the spokesperson said “Yes”.

“We’re looking into the details of what happened in this specific incident,” the spokesperson added, as per a report by Reuters.

The spokesperson also asserted that the Prime Minister has faith in the police that they will operate without fear or favour.

Meanwhile, the BBC reported on Friday that Braverman’s article was not cleared by Downing Street contrary to the ministerial code, which states that while ministers can contribute to a newspaper if the article is not at variance with their duty to collective responsibility for government policy, major interviews and media appearances should be agreed with Sunak’s office.

Asked if the article was government policy, the spokesperson said: “I don’t think its intention was to set out a policy position. I think that the policy positions have not changed”, reported Reuters.

The BBC also reported that one of the two changes to the article suggested by Downing Street was rejected by Braverman.

“The Times reported on Friday that changes made at the request of No 10 included removing a warning to the police not to take a “soft touch” approach at the Armistice Day protest, along with claims there was “ample evidence” senior police officers were biased. The paper reported further requested changes, including suggestions that she remove a comparison to marches in Northern Ireland, were rejected by Ms Braverman,” it said.

(With inputs from Reuters, Associated Press)

From the homepage

‘There is confusion’: SC directs EC to give details of 3.66 lakh voters deleted from final Bihar electoral roll

Found dead with gunshot wound, IPS officer Puran Kumar was known for speaking up against caste bias, administrative issues

Removed after Rajasthan hospital blaze, doctor claims warnings about ‘current leakage’ were ignored