Suella Braverman news – latest: Sunak to face cabinet as pressure grows over speeding row

Rishi Sunak is set to face an awkward Cabinet meeting on Tuesday as pressure grows on the prime minister to launch an ethics investigation into the home secretary’s handling of a speeding offence.

It comes after Suella Braverman faced a grilling by MPs in the Commons after she allegedly asked her staff to help her dodge a speeding fine, The Sunday Times reported.

Ms Braverman insisted she had done “nothing untoward”. She has admitted speeding and paying a fine – but did not deny asking officials for help in trying to arrange a private speed awareness course.

The prime minister is said to be considering emails in which Whitehall officials raised concerns to the Cabinet Office’s propriety and ethics team about Ms Braverman’s request for help.

Officials were told by the Cabinet Office ethics team to disregard concerns about the home secretary’s request, according to The Times.

The newspaper also claimed the emails show that Ms Braverman instructed them to organise the course, rather than simply soliciting advice, as suggested by her allies.

The home secretary has denied trying to “evade” punishment on the speeding offence.

Key points

• Decision looms on home secretary’s future

• Suella Braverman ‘asked staff to help her dodge speeding fine’

• Labour urges Sunak to commission investigation ‘without delay’ into home secretary

• Braverman should quit if she breached ministerial code, says Starmer

• Suella Braverman says ‘nothing untoward happened’ on speeding offence

• Sunak speaks to ethics adviser about Braverman

Suella Braverman accused of fresh ministerial code breaches after failing to disclose Rwanda links

11:45 , Martha Mchardy

Suella Braverman is facing fresh allegations of ministerial code breaches over her failure to formally disclose years of previous work with the Rwandan government.

The home secretary co-founded a charity called the Africa Justice Foundation with Cherie Blair, which trained Rwandan government lawyers between 2010 and 2015.

Several people the charity worked with are now key members of President Paul Kagame’s government and are involved in the UK’s £140m deal to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Ms Braverman did not officially disclose her previous links to the country when appointed home secretary in 2022, despite the deal being a lynchpin of the government’s migration policy and ongoing legal challenges alleging politically-driven human rights violations including torture, murder and kidnappings.

One former minister told The Independent that the home secretary “never mentioned” her work with the charity and should have been “upfront and transparent”, while two former standards chiefs said Ms Braverman should have formally disclosed her former role.

Ms Braverman resigned from her post as director of the Africa Justice Foundation weeks before being elected to parliament, and did not declare her previous role to Home Office permanent secretary Matthew Rycroft last year.

Lizzie Dearden reports:

Revealed: Suella Braverman failed to disclose Rwanda links to Home Office

Rishi Sunak still considering whether to investigate Suella Braverman, says No 10

12:18 , Martha Mchardy

Downing Street said Rishi Sunak was still considering whether or not to order an investigation into Suella Braverman’s conduct.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “He is still looking at all the requisite information.”

All the times Suella Braverman has been accused of breaking ministerial rules

12:16 , Martha Mchardy

Suella Braverman is facing fresh allegations that she broke the ministerial code over her failure to formally disclose years of previous work with the Rwandan government.

The home secretary is already facing accusations that she broke the ministerial code after the Sunday Times revealed Ms Braverman asked her staff to help her dodge a speeding fine.

These recent accusations are not the only time the home secretary has been accused of breaking ministerial rules.

Here are some of her controversial moments:

Failure to disclose previous work with Rwanda government

The home secretary co-founded a charity called the Africa Justice Foundation with Cherie Blair, which trained Rwandan government lawyers between 2010 and 2015.

Several people the charity worked with are now key members of President Paul Kagame’s government and are involved in the UK’s £140m deal to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Ms Braverman did not officially disclose her previous links to the country when appointed home secretary in 2022, despite the deal being a lynchpin of the government’s migration policy and ongoing legal challenges alleging politically-driven human rights violations including torture, murder and kidnappings.

Ms Braverman resigned from her post as director of the Africa Justice Foundation weeks before being elected to parliament, and did not declare her previous role to Home Office permanent secretary Matthew Rycroft last year.

Handling of speeding fine

The Sunday Times reported Mrs Braverman asked Home Office aides to help organise a one-to-one driving awareness course after being caught speeding last summer while attorney general.

Officials refused the request, so the Home Secretary allegedly turned to a political aide to assist her in attempting to arrange an alternative to having to attend a course with other motorists.

The newspaper said multiple requests were made to a speeding awareness course provider by an aide, including asking if the senior Conservative minister could do an online course, but use an alias or have her camera switched off.

Mrs Braverman ultimately chose instead to accept three points on her driving licence.

Email about civil servants

In March, an email sent out to Conservative Party members in Mrs Braverman’s name blamed “an activist blob of left-wing lawyers, civil servants and the Labour Party” for blocking previous attempts to tackle illegal migration.

She was accused of potentially breaking ministerial rules by questioning the impartiality of public servants after the publication of the Government’s Illegal Migration Bill.

Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union which represents senior civil servants, said the email amounted to a “direct attack on the integrity and impartiality” of those working in the Home Office.

The Prime Minister’s press secretary told reporters Mrs Braverman “did not see, sign off or sanction” the email, which she said was sent in error.

Sacking after using a personal email for official business

Liz Truss forced Mrs Braverman out as home secretary in October 2022 after she breached the ministerial code by sending an official document to a Tory backbencher from a personal email.

Mrs Braverman, who had been in the role six weeks, said she made a “mistake” which she conceded was a “technical infringement” of the rules.

Six days later, after Ms Truss resigned as prime minister, her successor Mr Sunak reinstated Mrs Braverman.

Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats raised “national security” concerns and demanded a Cabinet Office investigation.

Public clashes with Downing Street

On at least two occasions while Ms Truss was prime minister, she expressed views which put her at odds with Government policy.

Ms Braverman said she had “reservations” about relaxing immigration controls as part of any trade deal with India, telling the Spectator magazine she had “concerns about having an open borders migration policy with India because I don’t think that’s what people voted for with Brexit”.

Her comments were reported to have provoked a furious reaction from ministers and officials in New Delhi.

She also faced criticism from a senior Government source for calling on the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, who said: “Her personal views are contrary to Government policy and if she wishes to make those views known within Government she should do so in a more appropriate setting.”

11:28 , Martha Mchardy

Labour will use an urgent question from deputy leader Angela Rayner in the Commons to raise the issue of whether Suella Braverman breached the ministerial code over her handling of a speeding fine.

Watch live: Rishi Sunak fields questions from military experts at London defence conference

11:18 , Martha Mchardy

Live: Rishi Sunak fields questions from military experts at London defence conference

35 Conservative MPs to stand down at next election

10:57 , Martha Mchardy

35 Conservative MPs are to stand down at the next election - widely expected to come in the next 18 months.

Dominic Raab announced yesterday he would stand down at the next election, citing the pressure the job has put on his family.

Meanwhile, Philip Dunne, the MP for Ludlow also said he would be standing down as an MP.

A total of 52 current MPs have said they will be stepping down at the next election - including 12 Labour MPs, one PlaidCymru MP, and four independent MPs.

Sajid Javid, Nadine Dorries and Sir Graham Brady are among the Conservative MPs who are standing down.

While Harriet Harman, Dame Margaret Hodge and Dame Margaret Beckett are among the Labour MPs who will give up their seat at the next election.

Matt Hancock, who lost the Conservative whip after competing in ITV’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, and Chris Pincher, who had the whip withdrawn after allegedly groping two men while he was drunk, will stand down as independent MPs.

Suella Braverman ‘in hiding,’ says Labour MP

10:44 , Martha Mchardy

The home secretary is “in hiding” over allegations she asked her staff to help her dodge a speeding fine, a shadow cabinet minister has claimed.

Shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy told Sky News: “She’s failing to answer basic questions about what she did or didn’t do, and meanwhile, the asylum system is in complete chaos.

“You’ve got these crackers plans to start housing asylum seekers on barges and sending them to Rwanda, we’ve got huge problems with crime in every part of the country.

“We need a home secretary who is going to get a grip on this and a government that is going to stick together.”

Labour party fined for late reporting of donations

10:41 , Martha Mchardy

The Labour party has been fined £600 by the Electoral Commission for late reporting of donations.

The Conservatives escaped with no sanction after both parties failed to follow the rules.

The Electoral Commission rebuked Labour for the late reporting of donations, while the Conservatives were also found to have failed to report two donations by the due date.

Louise Edwards, the watchdog’s director of regulation and digital transformation, said: “The requirements for political parties are clear, so it’s disappointing when they are not fully complied with.”

She added: “In the case of the Labour Party, our investigations found seven offences related to the late reporting of donations from one of its quarterly financial reports, three of which have resulted in a sanction.”

The latest Electoral Commission update also rebuked the Green Party Northern Ireland for inaccurate and late reporting of donations, while the Irish Republican Socialist Party failed to deliver a spending return for the 2022 Stormont elections. Neither party received a sanction.

Fear of losing behind Raab’s decision to stand down as an MP, Lib Dems say

10:29 , Martha Mchardy

Dominic Raab is standing down as an MP at the next general election because he knows he will lose his seat, the Liberal Democrats have claimed.

The former deputy prime minister and justice secretary confirmed his exit plans on Monday night.

He quit Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet last month after an independent investigation by Adam Tolley KC found he had acted in an intimidating and aggressive way with officials in behaviour that could have amounted to bullying.

His Esher and Walton seat, which he has held since 2010, is a key target for the Lib Dems at the next general election.

The Lib Dems called on Mr Raab to quit immediately and trigger a by-election.

The Surrey constituency was won by Mr Raab by just 2,743 votes at the 2019 election.

But in May’s local elections the Lib Dems became the largest party on Elmbridge Borough Council, the area covered by the constituency.

Lib Dems leader Sir Ed Davey told LBC on Tuesday morning: “He knew he was going to lose.

“We have been working really well there.

“We’ll be working every day to earn the trust of people in Esher and Walton.

“It’s not just about Dominic Raab, it really is about the whole Conservative Party.”

He said his party hopes to take the seat but promised to “work for it”.

In a letter to the chairman of his local Conservative Association, seen by the Telegraph, Mr Raab reportedly cited concerns about the pressure on his family as being behind his decision.

“I have become increasingly concerned over the last few years about the pressure the job has placed on my young family,” he wrote in the letter dated May 19, according to the newspaper.

“I will continue to carry out all my responsibilities to my constituents, and provide every support in campaigning, so that we win here next year - which I am confident we can do under this Prime Minister’s leadership.

Voices: From the highway code to the ministerial code, the rules just don’t apply to Suella Braverman

10:15 , Martha Mchardy

The home secretary getting done for speeding really doesn’t matter very much. But asking the civil service to connive a way for you to take the easy way out does, writes Tom Peck.

Highway code, ministerial code: The rules don’t apply to Braverman | Tom Peck

Watch: Every time Suella Braverman addresses speeding fine controversy in the Commons

09:41 , Martha Mchardy

Suella Braverman faced questions from MPs in the House of Commons on Monday (22 May) regarding her speeding fine.

Claims that the home secretary asked officials to try to arrange a private speed awareness course for her, rather than take penalty points on her driving licence, have continued to circulate in the press.

She responded to claims earlier on Monday morning by stating she was “confident that nothing untoward happened”.

Here is a compilation of every time Ms Braverman addressed questions from MPs regarding the controversy.

Suella Braverman has made ‘a mistake too far,’ says Tory minister

09:38 , Martha Mchardy

Suella Braverman has shown “constant poor judgement” and appears to have made “a mistake too far,” senior Conservatives told The Independent’s political correspondent Adam Forrest.

One Tory minister told The Independent: “The PM should ask Sir Laurie to investigate urgently. If she’s found to have breached ministerial code – again – she should absolutely go.”

A former cabinet minister said there was “clearly” a case for investigation – adding that it appeared to be “a mistake too far” for Ms Braverman. “Frankly, there have been a number of lapses of judgement. If there’s a breach of code the prime minister might want to get someone else.”

Another Tory ex-minister added: “It’s behaviour which illustrates her constant poor judgement. The PM will be damaged if he lets her continue peddling inflated rhetoric and giving speeches that trash the Conservative brand.”

One senior Tory said colleagues would be “less sympathetic” if Ms Braverman is found to have broken the rules because she has “a track record”, adding: “Despite all this stuff about her representing a faction, it is a pretty small faction and a lot of right-wingers do not like her at all.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Ms Braverman should resign if she is found to have broken the ministerial code, while the Liberal Democrats said Mr Sunak’s “inability to act” on a probe “is a clear failure of leadership”.

Sir Alistair Graham, former chair of the committee on standards in public life, also called for an investigation – saying it “looks like totally inappropriate behaviour”.

The ex-standards chief told The Independent: “If the evidence demonstrates she asked civil servants to behave in an inappropriate manner, I would think it would be a breach of the code.”

The Home Office and Ms Braverman’s aide have been approached for comment.

Most senior Home Office civil servant was informed about Suella Braverman’s speeding claims

09:32 , Martha Mchardy

The most senior civil servant in the Home Office was informed about concerns over Suella Braverman’s handling of her speeding fine, the Guardian reported.

A senior official is said to have reported Ms Braverman’s initial request to Matthew Rycroft, the department’s permanent secretary, due to concerns about whether it was appropriate.

Ms Braverman has insisted she did “nothing untoward”. She has admitted speeding and paying a fine – but did not deny asking officials for help in trying to arrange a private speed awareness course.

Officials told by Cabinet Office ethics team to disregard request by home secretary for help with speeding offence

09:27 , Martha Mchardy

Officials were told by the Cabinet Office ethics team to disregard a request by the home secretary for help with handling her speeding fine, according to The Times.

Emails sent to the Cabinet Office show officials raised concerns about Suella Braverman’s conduct after she allegedly asked her staff to help her dodge a speeding fine by arranging a private driving awareness course, The Sunday Times reported.

Officials were told by the Cabinet Office to disregard the home secretary’s request.

The Times also claimed the emails show that Ms Braverman instructed them to organise the course, rather than simply soliciting advice, as suggested by her allies.

The emails are now being considered by the prime minister as pressure grows on him to launch an ethics investigation into the home secretary’s conduct.

Labour angry at Braverman’s response to sexual abuse inquiry

09:18 , Martha Mchardy

Sarah Champion, the Labour MP for Rotherham, said she was angered by Suella Braverman’s response to the findings of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme she was “so angry” at the home secretary’s response to “simple” recommendations. “Rather than accepting those, she’s kicked it into the long grass with consultations, with 13 weeks of calls for evidence.

”Lucy Duckworth, a member of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse Survivors and Victims Consultative Panel, also criticised the government’s response.

She pointed to the government’s rejection of a call for a new minister for children as one of the disappointing aspects of the response. “To really truly tackle this, we need a complete culture change and a complete reform of the system,” she told the Today programme.

Sunak accused of doing ‘sloppy pre-investigation’

09:17 , Martha Mchardy

The former head of the Civil Service Lord Kerslake said Mr Sunak should “get on with it” and launch a formal inquiry.

The crossbench peer told Channel 4 News: “We don’t really have the full facts yet. And he doesn’t have the full facts I think.”

“He seems to be doing a sloppy investigation before an investigation, but he’d be better just to get on with it and get Sir Laurie to undertake the necessary work on it.”

Sunak urged to launch Braverman probe as officials ‘contacted ethics team about speeding emails’

08:17 , Martha Mchardy

Rishi Sunak has been urged to launch an investigation into Suella Braverman’s handling of a speeding offence, as the scandal threatens to deepen rifts in the Tory party.

The prime minister is said to be considering emails in which Whitehall officials raised concerns to the Cabinet Office’s propriety and ethics team about Ms Braverman’s request for help to arrange a private speed awareness course.

Mr Sunak faces an awkward cabinet meeting on Tuesday, with his home secretary accused of breaching the ministerial code by asking taxpayer-funded civil servants to assist with a private matter.

Senior Conservatives told The Independent that Ms Braverman had shown “constant poor judgement” and appeared to have made “a mistake too far”.

Ms Braverman insisted she had done “nothing untoward”. She has admitted speeding and paying a fine – but did not deny asking officials for help in trying to arrange a one-to-one speed course rather than joining fellow motorists on the programme.

Officials were so concerned by her alleged request they emailed the Cabinet Office’s propriety and ethics team, who told them to disregard it, according to The Times.

Adam Forrest reports:

Sunak urged to launch Braverman probe as contact with ethics team emerges

Monday 22 May 2023 20:13 , Sam Rkaina

We’re pausing our live coverage of Suella Braverman for the evening but keep checking independent.co.uk for the latest updates.

Tory MPs urge Sunak to sack Braverman if she broke rules over speeding offence

Monday 22 May 2023 19:02 , Sam Rkaina

Conservative MPs are urging Rishi Sunak to order an investigation into Suella Braverman and sack her if the home secretary is found to have breached the ministerial rules over her handling of a speeding offence.

Senior Tory MPs told The Independent Ms Braverman had shown “constant poor judgment” and appeared to have made “a mistake too far” following reports she asked officials to try to arrange a private speed awareness course rather than take points on her licence.

In her first public comments on the row, the home secretary did not deny asking civil servants to look into the possibility of a one-on-one course – but said she was confident she had done “nothing untoward” and denied trying to “evade” punishment.

Mr Sunak held back on offering his support, saying he had spoken to both Ms Braverman and No 10 ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus and was still seeking “more information” before deciding whether to order an investigation.

Click here for the full story.

Sunak says he will update MPs “in due course”

Monday 22 May 2023 16:40 , Sam Rkaina

Mr Sunak told MPs he would update on any response to the allegations facing Suella Braverman “in due course”.

The Prime Minister said that he had met with Sir Laurie Magnus and the Home Secretary, amid reports she asked officials to try to arrange a private speed awareness course for her rather than take penalty points on her driving licence.

Mr Sunak, giving a statement in the Commons on the G7, said: “I have always been clear that where issues like this are raised, they should be dealt with properly and they should be dealt with professionally.

“Since I have returned from the G7, I have been receiving information on the issues raised, I have met with both the independent adviser and the Home Secretary. I have asked for further information and I will update on the appropriate course of action in due course.”

Downing Street declines to endorse Braverman’s statement

Monday 22 May 2023 16:35 , Sam Rkaina

Downing Street declined to endorse Suella Braverman’s assertions that “at no point did I attempt to evade sanction” and “nothing untoward” had happened.

A spokesman said: “I’m simply speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister in saying that he wants to avail himself of all the information before he makes a decision.

“Again, I’m not going to pre-empt that and set out his view before he’s done that.”

PM wants ‘proper process’ followed

Monday 22 May 2023 16:30 , Sam Rkaina

Mr Sunak wants to make sure a “proper process” is followed, a No 10 spokesman insisted amid questions about the Prime Minister’s conversations on Monday.

Asked what more information he needs to avail himself of, after speaking to both his ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus and Ms Braverman, the spokesman said: “As the Prime Minister said before he believes in making sure there is a proper process.

“Again, you’ll know that he only arrived back in the UK in the early hours of the morning this morning.

“So he wants to make sure he takes the time to avail himself of the information and ensure that he has seen and he’s aware of the most up-to-date information and obviously look at that before he takes any decisions.”

The spokesman declined to say whether Mr Sunak will speak to Sir Laurie or the Home Secretary again.

Sunak ‘has spoken to' Braverman about handling of speeding offence

Monday 22 May 2023 16:19 , Sam Rkaina

Rishi Sunak has spoken to Suella Braverman about her handling of a speeding offence as he “continues to avail himself of the information” about the situation, Downing Street has said.

“He has spoken to the Home Secretary about this, but I’m not going to get into the detail of that conversation,” a No 10 spokesman told reporters.

It is understood Ms Braverman was in Downing Street earlier on Monday for a regular meeting on illegal immigration.

Monday 22 May 2023 15:58 , Martha Mchardy

Rishi Sunak showed Suella Braverman support in Parliament earlier, patting her on the back, inews chief political commentator Paul Waugh said.

Monday 22 May 2023 15:50 , Martha Mchardy

Yvette Cooper asked Suella Braverman whether “she authorised her special adviser to tell journalists that there wasn’t a speeding penalty when there was”.

Speaking in the House of Commons, the shadow home secretary said: “At the heart of the Home Secretary’s responsibility is to ensure that laws are fairly enforced for all. But when she got a speeding penalty, it seems she sought special treatment, a private course and asked civil servants to help.

“She refused to say what she asked civil servants to do so I ask her that again, and to also tell us whether she authorised her special adviser to tell journalists that there wasn’t a speeding penalty when there was?”

The Home Secretary replied: “As I have said earlier, in the summer of last year, I was speeding. I regret that. I paid the fine and I accepted the points. At no time, did I seek to avoid the sanction.”

Ms Braverman said she is “getting on with the job of delivering for the British people”.

Rishi Sunak rejects view that Britain’s influence in decline as he gives G7 statement

Monday 22 May 2023 15:48 , Martha Mchardy

Rishi Sunak gave a G7 statement to MPs, saying he rejects the view that Britain’s influence is in decline.

He said it is a ‘mistake’ to say that Britain is in retreat on the world stage, or that its influence is in decline.

The prime minister said Britain’s influence is clear in its Ukraine policy, and that the UK has been at the forefront of support for Ukraine.

Mr Sunak said the UK is providing more military aid to Ukraine than any country other than the US.

Monday 22 May 2023 15:38 , Martha Mchardy

SNP spokesperson on home affairs Alison Thewliss asked the home secretary if being caught speeding would affect her right to remain in her job.

Ms Thewliss said being caught speeding can affect decisions about whether someone gets leave to remain in the UK.

Monday 22 May 2023 15:36 , Martha Mchardy

Suella Braverman was questioned by shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper over allegations she tried to dodge a speeding fine.

Ms Cooper said: “Time and again, she tries to think that she’s above the normal rules, breaching security even though she’s responsible for it, trying to avoid penalties even though she sets them, reappointed even after breaking the ministerial code, and criticising Home Office policies even though she’s in charge of them and is failing on night crime, on Channel crossings, on immigration and more.

“The prime minister is clearly too weak to sort this out. Well, if the home secretary cannot get a grip of her own rule-breaking behaviour, how can she get a grip on anything else?”

Watch: Suella Braverman Tells Yvette Cooper To 'Focus On Priorities' After Question On Speeding Ticket

Monday 22 May 2023 15:32 , Martha Mchardy

MP Margaret Ferrier who travelled by train with Covid loses appeal over Commons ban

Monday 22 May 2023 15:29 , Martha Mchardy

Former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier has lost her appeal against a proposed 30-day suspension from Commons – bringing a by-election in her Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency a step closer.

The punishment was proposed by MPs on the Commons Standards Committee after a breach of Covid rules by Ms Ferrier saw her speak in the House of Commons and take the train between Scotland and England while positive for the virus.

With a sanction of 10 sitting days or more being enough to potentially force a by-election, Ms Ferrier, who now sits as an independent MP, had appealed against the length of her proposed suspension.

But the Independent Expert Panel, which considers appeals against decisions by the Committee on Standards from MPs, has rejected this.

With regards to Ms Ferrier’s appeal, a sub-panel which considered the matter found that “none of the grounds had substance” and also said that “the sanction imposed was neither unreasonable nor disproportionate”.

Katrine Bussey reports:

MP who travelled by train with Covid loses appeal over Commons ban

Suella Braverman responds to questions from shadow home secretary

Monday 22 May 2023 15:28 , Martha Mchardy

Suella Braverman was questioned by shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper over allegations she tried to dodge a speeding fine.

Ms Cooper alleged Ms Braverman thinks she is “above the normal rules.”

Ms Braverman responded: “At no time did I seek to avoid the sanction.

“What is serious here is the priorities of the British people... I only wish the Labour party would focus on the priorities too.”

The shadow home secretary said: “the prime minister is clearly too weak to sort this out.”

Braverman accuses Labour of raising speeding fine to cause distraction

Monday 22 May 2023 15:11 , Martha Mchardy

Suella Braverman accused the Labour party of raising her speeding fine to distract from their record on crime.

Shadow Home Office minister Sarah Jones asked Braverman if people caught speeding should be allowed to take speed awareness courses in private, and what Ms Braverman asked her staff to do.

Ms Braverman said: “Let’s be honest about what this is all about. The shadow minister would rather distract, really, from the abject failure by the Labour party to offer any serious proposal on crime or policing. They want to talk about this because it distracts from the fact that they voted against tougher sentences for paedophiles and murderers.”

Monday 22 May 2023 15:04 , Martha Mchardy

Labour MPs could be heard laughing in the Commons as a Conservative MP mentioned driving in a question to the home secretary.

Sedgefield MP Paul Howell congratulated Suella Braverman for “driving this increase in police numbers on the street”.

Labour backbenchers began to laugh as the Tory MP continued his question to Ms Braverman, who was appearing in the Commons for the first time since newspaper reports suggested she mishandled a speeding offence.

Over 40% of Britons think Suella Braverman should resign, poll says

Monday 22 May 2023 14:51 , Martha Mchardy

Over 40% of Britons and 25% of Conservative voters think Suella Braverman should resign as home secretary, a YouGov poll has revealed.

Braverman denies trying to ‘evade’ speeding sanction

Monday 22 May 2023 14:49 , Martha Mchardy

Suella Braverman has denied trying to “evade” punishment on the speeding offence. The home secretary was challenged by Labour MP Emma Lewell-Buck in the Commons, and asked if she agreed that no-one should be “above the law”.

Braverman said: “Last summer I was speeding. I regret that. I paid the fine and I took the penalty. And at no point did I tried to evade sanction.”

Monday 22 May 2023 14:43 , Martha Mchardy

Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain MP said: “For a Prime Minister who promised integrity, Sunak’s silence speaks volumes. He has had ample time to contact his ethics advisor and announce an investigation.

“His inability to act is a clear failure of leadership. Sunak and his entire cabinet cannot keep taking the public for fools.”

Monday 22 May 2023 14:42 , Martha Mchardy

Angela Rayner MP, Labour’s deputy leader, responding to Suella Braverman’s remarks to broadcasters and Rishi Sunak still not having ordered an inquiry, said: “While Suella Braverman fails to answer basic questions and gives the impression she has something to hide, Rishi Sunak is once again dithering and delaying rather than taking action over yet another case of misconduct in his crumbling cabinet.

“The prime minister must order an ethics investigation to get to the bottom of this. We’ve had 13 years of the Tories defending themselves and their mates. Enough is enough.”

Suella Braverman faces grilling from MPs over speeding fine

Monday 22 May 2023 14:41 , Martha Mchardy

Ms Braverman is in Parliament, facing a grilling from MPs as part of Home Office questions.

She ignored questions from the press about her future as she got into a ministerial car.

Watch live: Braverman and Sunak face questions in Commons after speeding ticket controversy

Monday 22 May 2023 14:40 , Martha Mchardy

Live: Braverman and Sunak face Commons questions after speeding ticket controversy

Starmer rules out imposing salt and sugar tax

Monday 22 May 2023 14:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Labour leader ruled out imposing a salt and sugar tax during the cost-of-living crisis, but refused to be drawn on whether he would consider a levy in the event that economic pressures ease.

He said: “The focus we put today is very clearly on advertising, this is something the Government toyed with and then moved away from.

“I think that showed a fundamental weakness in their approach - an unseriousness about tackling the issues that really matter.

“What we don’t want to do in a cost-of-living crisis is add to the burden of food costs.”

Labour’s pledge will be for suicide rates to start declining within five years.

The Conservative Party highlighted that cutting NHS waiting lists was one of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s top five priorities for the country.

They responded to the speech with counter-accusations about Labour’s own record on the NHS, with health minister Will Quince saying: “It’s easy to shout from the sidelines, but the truth is Labour in Wales are currently missing all the targets Sir Keir Starmer has just set out for England.

“Labour have been running the health service in Wales for 25 years and haven’t met these targets. Sir Keir has a record of changing his mind - we can’t trust these will be Labour’s targets next week let alone in five years’ time.

“This Conservative Government has already reduced 18-month waits by 91% from their peak, and two-year waits are virtually eliminated.”

Labour leader proposes ban on advertising junk food to children

Monday 22 May 2023 13:46 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Sir Keir Starmer also used the speech today to propose a ban on advertising junk food to children, which he has said will target both TV and social media, and measures to prevent suicide.

He has proposed a shift towards more community-based mental healthcare to reduce the burden on hospitals, with a pledge to recruit 8,500 new staff and ensure treatment is available in less than a month.

Data released earlier this month showed that a raft of NHS targets are currently being missed, including a key 62-day cancer target.

The Government and NHS England set the ambition of returning the number of patients waiting more than 62 days to pre-pandemic levels by March 2023.

However, the data showed that the number of patients waiting longer than 62 days since an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer stood at 19,248 in the week ending April 2.

The average weekly figure for February 2020 was 13,463.

The Government has also missed a target of eliminating 18-month waits for planned NHS care such as knee and hip replacements, though numbers have fallen dramatically in recent months.

The Labour leader said in his speech a “cruel lottery of who lives and who dies” exists in Britain despite the NHS being founded to offer care for all those who need it.

He told the audience: “(The Tories) voted against the NHS right at the start - more than once.

“While they have come to accept it as part of the political furniture, in their heart of hearts they don’t believe in its central promise.

“For them it’s a cost, not a cause, and from that mindset springs the well of their neglect.

“The poverty of their ambition, the sticking plaster, crisis management impulse that never sees the opportunities, never addresses the long-term.”

Starmer unveils Labour health targets pledge

Monday 22 May 2023 13:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Sir Keir Starmer has pledged Labour would make the NHS “fit for the future” with new targets for ambulance response times, cancer diagnosis and cutting deaths from cardiovascular disease.

Delivering a speech on Monday, he echoed Nye Bevan, the Labour minister who helped found the health service, in describing illness as “neither an indulgence” to be paid for, “nor an offence” to be penalised.

The Labour leader claimed the NHS will not survive another five years under the Tories, whom he accused of not believing in their “heart of hearts” in its core promise.

Giving the speech in Braintree in Essex, Sir Keir confirmed a number of key Labour commitments which include:

- Reducing cardiovascular disease including heart attacks and stroke by 75% within a decade

- Ensuring 75% of all cancer is diagnosed at stages one and two, making it easier to treat

- Ambulances to respond to cardiac arrest callouts within seven minutes

- A return to the target of 95% of all A&E patients being seen within four hours

The four-hour A&E target, which has not been achieved nationally since 2015, and an improvement in ambulance response times would be hit by 2030, he said.

He said “We will fix the NHS. We will reform the NHS. Old values, new opportunities ...

“An NHS, not just off its knees, but running confidently towards the future.”

Watch: Suella Braverman 'confident that nothing untoward happened' over speeding ticket

Monday 22 May 2023 12:41 , Martha Mchardy

Suella Braverman says ‘nothing untoward happened’ on speeding offence

Monday 22 May 2023 12:40 , Martha Mchardy

Home secretary Suella Braverman said she was “confident that nothing untoward happened” in the handling of her speeding offence and added she regrets breaking the speed limit.

Adam Forrest reports:

Suella Braverman says ‘nothing untoward happened’ on speeding offence

No10 spokesman refuses to say whether Sunak has spoken to home secretary

Monday 22 May 2023 12:34 , Martha Mchardy

A No10 spokesman would not confirm whether Mr Sunak had spoken to the Home Secretary on Monday.

“I obviously wouldn’t get into specific conversations but the Prime Minister, as you would expect, is in regular conversation with the Home Secretary,” the spokesman said.

Asked if Mr Sunak still had confidence in her, the spokesman said: “Yes, he and the Home Secretary continue to work closely on the public’s priorities, not least tackling illegal immigration.”

‘Everybody should abide by the law,’ says No10

Monday 22 May 2023 12:33 , Martha Mchardy

A No10 spokesman said that “everybody should abide by the law” amid questions about Suella Braverman.

Asked if ministers should set a good example on issues such as speeding, he said: “Everybody should abide with the law, that goes without saying.

“On this specific matter, the PM is availing himself of all of the information, having just got back from the G7.”

Pressed on whether the Prime Minister was frustrated the overseas summit was overshadowed by the allegations against the Home Secretary, the spokesman said: “The Prime Minister remains fully focused on his priorities ... and ensuring the Government delivers on behalf of the public.”

Sunak believes ministers’ advisers should tell the truth

Monday 22 May 2023 12:30 , Martha Mchardy

A No 10 spokesman said “of course” Rishi Sunak believes special advisers should tell the truth to journalists following reports a senior aide to Suella Braverman denied she had been caught speeding.

The spokesman said Rishi Sunak believes that “integrity, professionalism and accountability are core values” – but would not be drawn on whether the special adviser had failed to tell the truth.

Ms Braverman’s special adviser denied several times that she had been had been “done” for speeding and claimed it was “nonsense” when asked six weeks ago, according to The Mirror.

Sunak speaks to ethics adviser about Braverman

Monday 22 May 2023 12:29 , Martha Mchardy

Rishi Sunak has spoken to his ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus about Suella Braverman, Downing Street said.

The spokesman said Mr Sunak was “availing himself of information” about the situation.

But it is understood no formal inquiry has yet been launched into whether she breached the ministerial code.

A No 10 spokesman said Mr Sunak continued to have confidence in his home secretary.

The spokesman would not confirm whether Mr Sunak had spoken to the home secretary on Monday. “I obviously wouldn’t get into specific conversations but the prime minister, as you would expect, is in regular conversation with the home secretary.”

Editorial: Suella Braverman cannot survive another breach of the ministerial code

Monday 22 May 2023 12:00 , Martha Mchardy

You would expect a home secretary and former attorney general to understand such things, and not to embarrass her civil servants by seeking their assistance in conniving her way out of it, The Independent writes in its editorial.

Editorial: Suella Braverman cannot survive another breach of the ministerial code

Watch: Keir Starmer vows the Labour party will make the NHS 'fit for the future'

Monday 22 May 2023 11:32 , Martha Mchardy

Watch: Braverman should resign if ministerial code was broken, Starmer says

Monday 22 May 2023 10:40 , Martha Mchardy

Head union representing civil servants criticises Suella Braverman

Monday 22 May 2023 10:35 , Martha Mchardy

Mark Serwotka, head of PCS, the biggest union representing civil servants, said: “Breaking the ministerial code doesn’t appear so much to be a lapse of judgement as of a pattern of behaviour.

“Suella Braverman is quick to criticise civil servants when it suits her, but even quicker to ask for their help when she needs it.

“Civil servants’ role is to deliver government policy not to act as her personal assistants.

“How many more lives will Rishi Sunak give her? This is double standards. If she was a PCS member she would not expect to be treated so leniently.”

Suella Braverman’s past controversies amid speeding scandal

Monday 22 May 2023 10:25 , Martha Mchardy

Suella Braverman is facing allegations that she asked civil servants to help her avoid getting points on her licence for speeding, as prime minister Rishi Sunak is set to make a decision on her future as home secretary today. During her two stints as home secretary, Mrs Braverman has regularly attracted criticism for her comments and policy decisions.

Here are some of her controversial moments.

Martha McHardy reports:

Suella Braverman’s past controversies amid speeding points scandal

Braverman should quit if she breached ministerial code, says Starmer

Monday 22 May 2023 09:42 , Martha Mchardy

Suella Braverman should quit if found to have breached the ministerial code by asking civil servants to arrange a private speed awareness course for her, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said.

Labour leader Sir Keir said her actions appear to have been “inappropriate” and she should resign if she is found to have breached the ministerial code.

David Hughes reports:

Braverman should quit if she breached ministerial code, says Starmer

Rishi Sunak to consult ethics adviser on Suella Braverman speeding fine scandal as calls for inquiry grow

Monday 22 May 2023 09:23 , Martha Mchardy

Rishi Sunak will consult his ethics adviser over whether Suella Braverman broke government rules by allegedly asking civil servants to help her avoid speeding points, as calls for an official inquiry mount.

Former Conservative Party chair Sir Jake Berry said the home secretary clearly had “questions to answer”, while another former Tory minister told The Independent that the allegations were “the final straw”.

Labour and the Lib Dems have called for an investigation into whether Ms Braverman broke the ministerial code – and told the PM to come to parliament on Monday to explain what he knew about the claims.

Jon Stone reports:

Pressure mounts on Rishi Sunak to investigate Suella Braverman speeding fine scandal

Suella Braverman did ‘nothing untoward’ by allegedly seeking private speeding course

Monday 22 May 2023 08:34 , Martha Mchardy

Suella Braverman is the “author of her own misfortune” over speeding points allegations – but did “nothing untoward” by reportedly trying to arrange a private awareness course, a lawyer has said.

After the home secretary was caught speeding outside London while attorney general last summer, she reportedly asked Home Office aides to help organise a one-to-one course to help her avoid incurring points on her licence.

Nick Freeman, known as Mr Loophole for winning celebrities’ cases on legal technicalities, said providers often prefer high-profile people to take private speed awareness courses as it is “less distracting” for others on it.

However, he said Mrs Braverman should have treated her alleged speeding offence as a “private matter” by getting a lawyer to deal with it.

Mr Freeman told the PA news agency: “(Mrs Braverman) wanted to do a one-to-one, there’s nothing untoward about that, I’ve had many clients who have arranged a one-to-one.

“On occasions the course providers contacted us and said, ‘I know you’re asking for such and such, would you mind if we have the course just exclusively for that particular person?’

“The reason behind it tends to be they want people attending the course to concentrate on the contents of the course and not on the people who are actually at the course.

“So if you’ve got a world-class footballer or world-class actor or musician, you don’t want people looking thinking, ‘oh wow, guess who’s on my course!’, they want to be tuning into what the course is about.

“So there’s nothing untoward about that, there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Suella Braverman did ‘nothing untoward’ by allegedly seeking private speeding course