Michael Gove defended the re-appointment of “first-rate” Suella Braverman as Home Secretary today amid mounting pressure.
The Cabinet minister claimed that Ms. Braverman is “definitely” a politician of high moral character, notwithstanding recent allegations concerning her government acts.
A week after Ms. Braverman resigned from Liz Truss’s government for exchanging a confidential document with a Tory backbencher via her personal email, Mr. Sunak reappointed her.
This weekend, further allegations surfaced, including that she ignored legal warnings regarding an asylum processing station in Kent and that she was previously investigated for the leakage of Northern Ireland protocol policy data.
Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, has sought the dismissal of the Home Secretary, accusing Mr Sunak of brokering a “grubby bargain selling security for support” in the Conservative leadership contest.
Sunday on the Sky News program Ridge, Mr. Gove stated, “Suella is a first-rate, front-rank politician.”
She admitted that an error had been made. She is working hard to ensure that our borders are more secure and that law enforcement is more efficient.
She is a respected member of the Cabinet whom I admire and like.
Mr. Gove was asked on BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg if Ms. Braverman is an honest politician, to which he responded, “Absolutely.”
He stated, “I am more than satisfied that in resigning, accepting responsibility, and apologizing, and then in receiving assurances from the Cabinet Secretary and the Prime Minister that Suella’s return to office was the right decision, Suella is now in a position to do the work she is dedicated to doing.”
Mr. Sunak has stated that Ms. Braverman “learned from her error” and that he does not regret the decision, despite the outcry from some Conservative MPs.
With a ‘humble address’ resolution in Parliament this week, Labour will press ministers to provide risk assessments of alleged leaks as well as the information provided to Mr. Sunak before he reinstated her at the Home Office.
Ms. Braverman has declined to go before the House of Representatives to explain what occurred.
Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, stated, “Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman cannot continue to evade these questions.” It is just too severe for that and casts considerable doubt on the judgment of the prime minister.
People must believe that the Home Secretary can be trusted with highly sensitive information and our national security. The decision by Rishi Sunak to reappoint Suella Braverman was incredibly imprudent.
“Labour will use every available legislative instrument to compel the government to come clean about her reappointment, to obtain explanations, and to request the release of specific information to the Intelligence and Security Committee,” the statement reads.
Caroline Nokes supported opposition calls for an investigation, and former Tory chairman Sir Jake Berry described the violation as “very grave.”
Ms. Braverman, nicknamed “Leaky Sue,” was apparently examined by government officials when a story concerning the security services was leaked.