Suella Braverman news – latest: Home Secretary in fresh code breach claims after speeding row

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.

Now Ms Braverman is facing further pressure after she failed to disclose that she co-founded a charity called the Africa Justice Foundation which worked with several key members of President Paul Kagame’s government who 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 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”.

A spokesperson for the home secretary said it was “not necessary” for Ms Braverman to disclose her links with the charity, which she resigned from shortly before being elected to parliament.

Key points

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

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

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

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

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

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

New immigration rules ‘strike the right balance,’ No 10 insists despite backlash

16:29 , Martha Mchardy

Downing Street has insisted the Government’s new rules relating to overseas students “strike the right balance” in controlling net migration.

A major tightening of immigration rules will prevent overseas students bringing tens of thousands of dependants to the UK under plans announced by the home secretary today.

No 10 was asked whether Rishi Sunak had considered claims the measures would disproportionately affect women especially from countries such as Nigeria who make up the large bulk of dependants.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “We believe this strikes the right balance between acting decisively on net migration and ensuring we remain competitive in attracting international students.”

Downing Street also rejected suggestions the Government has lost control of net migration ahead of official figures being published this week.

A No 10 spokesman said: “I don’t agree with the characterisation. Post-Brexit, the Government does have control of its points-based immigration system.”

Downing Street said significant factors in recent months have had an effect on levels of people entering the country, including the “generosity of the British public” towards people fleeing Ukraine.

Official figures due to be released on Thursday are expected to show net migration at record levels.

Downing street responds to Braverman ‘witch-hunt’ allegations

16:25 , Martha Mchardy

MPs are “free to express their view”, Downing Street said when asked about claims by allies of Suella Braverman that the Home Secretary is the victim of a “witch-hunt” over her handling of a speeding offence.

Former minister Sir Edward Leigh earlier said the “moral outrage is ludicrous” and a far cry from “proper scandals”.

Asked whether Rishi Sunak agreed, his official spokesman said: “MPs are free to express their view.

“From the Prime Minister’s perspective, he thinks that when issues are raised they should be considered properly. That’s the process that he has established previously and is adhering to now.”

Rishi Sunak not ‘dithering’ over Barverman ethics probe, says No 10, but formal investigation still not announced

16:24 , Martha Mchardy

Downing Street has rejected suggestions that Rishi Sunak is dithering over whether to launch a formal probe into Suella Braverman’s conduct.

Asked why the prime minister is dithering, his official spokesman told reporters: “I wouldn’t characterise it like that.

“I think people would understand that it’s right to gather all the facts before making a decision.”

Pressed on why Mr Sunak is carrying out an investigation himself when he has an independent adviser on ministers’ interests, the spokesman said: “That’s not how I’d characterise it.

“He’s asked for some more information before coming to a decision. I’m sure we will have more to say once that’s concluded.”

Braverman allies claim ‘witch hunt’ over speeding row

16:21 , Martha Mchardy

Allies of Suella Braverman have claimed she is the victim of a “witch-hunt” over her handling of a speeding offence.

Tory MP Jonathan Gullis said voters were more interested in policies than the “witch-hunt from the party opposite”.

Miriam Cates said: “This leak is a clear attempt to play the woman not the ball, an attempt that undermines our democracy and distracts from the important job of delivering on ordinary people’s priorities.”

And senior Tory MP Sir Charles Walker said Ms Braverman was “not on my Christmas card list and I’m certainly not on hers” – but questioned why the BBC had asked about Braverman row at the G7.

“I find it hard to get my head around the fact that the BBC sent its political editor half way across the world to a G7 conference summit where we were discussing energy security, Ukraine, defence, to ask our prime minister a question about a speed awareness course. This is the question, why, why?”

New immigration rules ‘will not work’ because ‘vast majority’ of international students don’t stay in UK, expert says

16:08 , Martha Mchardy

IPPR thinktank migration expert said the Government’s new immigration rules, targeted at bringing down net immigration will not work because the vast majority of international students do not stay in the UK anyway.

All the MPs standing down at the next general election as Dominic Raab says he will quit

15:30 , Martha Mchardy

More than 10 per cent of all Tory MPs have said they are planning to stand down at the next general election – with former deputy PM Dominic Raab the latest to announce his departure.

The next election is expected sometime next year, though no official date has yet been set. Despite this, dozens of MPs from across the parties have said they won’t be standing again.

Here are some of the bigger names who have said they won’t be returning to the Commons after voters go to the polls.

Jon Stone and Eleanor Noyce report:

All the MPs standing down at the next general election as Dominic Raab to quit

Curbs on overseas students bringing family to UK ‘damaging’ - UCU gen sec

14:55 , Martha Mchardy

Curbs on overseas students bringing family to the UK may be “damaging” to the pipeline of “international talent” into the country, a union has warned.

Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), called the tightening of immigration rules by the Home Office “a vindictive move”.

She said: “Those who choose to study in the UK, no matter where they are from in the world, bring huge value to our society and deserve the right to live alongside their loved ones whilst they study. Instead, they are being treated with contempt.

“It is clear that deep concern is already being felt across the sector as to just how damaging the package of measures announced by the home secretary could be to the pipeline of international talent coming to the UK.

“This is another deeply shameful moment for a Government hell-bent on attacking migrants and undermining our universities.”

New immigration rules will have ‘disproportionate impact’ on women and students from certain countries - Universities UK

14:52 , Martha Mchardy

Jamie Arrowsmith, director of Universities UK International, said changes to rules on dependants announced by the Government are likely to have a “disproportionate impact on women and students from certain countries”.

He added that Government should limit and monitor the impact of restrictions to student visa routes on universities already under “serious financial pressures.”

He said: “We therefore urge the Government to work with the sector to limit and monitor the impact on particular groups of students - and on universities, which are already under serious financial pressures. The review process that has been announced must consider these issues.

“Ultimately, our collective aim must be to ensure that international students who choose the UK can be confident that they are welcome here, that their contribution is valued, and that the terms on which they have made decisions remain stable.

“Anything that threatens to affect the UK’s global success as a top destination for international talent needs to be considered very carefully.”

However, Mr Arrowsmith said that the “vast majority” of international students will not be affected by the changes to rules on dependents announced by the home secretary.

“I think it’s really hard to say at this stage what the scale of the impact might be,” he told BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme.

“We do know that the vast majority of international students are not accompanied by dependents.

“So the vast majority of students will be unaffected by this change.

“There will of course be some impact, otherwise the Government would not be introducing the change.”

New immigration rules announced the home secretary will have ‘negative impact’ on universities, Russell Group leader says

14:48 , Martha Mchardy

New immigration rules announced by the home secretary today are likely to have a “negative impact” on universities’ plans to diversify their student intakes, the leader of the Russell Group said.

A major tightening of immigration rules will prevent overseas students bringing tens of thousands of dependants to the UK.

Home secretary Suella Braverman told MPs: “This package strikes the right balance between acting decisively on tackling net migration and protecting the economic benefits that students can bring to the UK.

“Now is the time for us to make these changes to ensure an impact on net migration as soon as possible. We expect this package to have a tangible impact on net migration.”

Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group, which represents some of the most selective institutions in the UK, said overseas students bring “vital income to support education for UK students and world-leading research”.

He said: “Global competition for international students is fierce and some of the announcements made today are likely to have a negative impact on universities’ plans to diversify their international student intakes.

“However, we welcome the Government’s recommitment to the graduate route and that students coming to study on postgraduate research programmes will still be able to bring dependants.”

Meanwhile, Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi), said banning overseas students from bringing their families to the UK is not “wise” as these students bring money to the country.

Mr Hillman said he hoped the home secretary will now lobby the chancellor “to help universities recoup their losses” following the announcement.

He said: “This is not a wise move because every part of the UK benefits from the presence of international students and, if they are discouraged from coming to the UK, they won’t stay at home but instead go to our competitors.”

Mr Hillman added: “We do all have to recognise that the big recent surge in dependants has caused some challenges, but this is not a sensible way to address them. As a country, we risk cutting off our nose to spite our face.

“Given that international student fees subsidise the teaching of home students as well as UK research, I hope the Home Secretary will now be lobbying the Chancellor to help universities recoup their losses.”

Watch: Suella Braverman confident ‘nothing untoward happened’ on speeding offence

14:15 , Martha Mchardy

Foreign students will be barred from bringing dependents to UK in migration curb

13:45 , Martha Mchardy

Suella Braverman has announced a crackdown on overseas students bringing family members to the UK as part of a push to reduce net migration.

The home secretary said all foreign students – apart from those on postgraduate research programmes – will be banned from bringing dependents from January 2024.

Ms Braverman said there had been an “unexpected” spike in the number of relatives coming with students – saying the trend could “not be at the expense” of the Tory promise to cut immigration.

Read the full story:

Foreign students will be barred from bringing dependents to UK in migration curb

Former head of civil service laments ‘gotcha’ response to ministerial code breaches

13:26 , Martha Mchardy

The former head of the civil service said one problem with the ministerial code is that any potential breach is treated as a “gotcha moment”.

Sir Gus O’Donnell, who was cabinet secretary between 2005 and 2011, declined to say whether Home Secretary Suella Braverman broke the code over her handling of a speeding offence.

But he rejected the assumption that ministers should automatically resign if a breach is identified.

Speaking at an Institute for Government (IfG) event on Tuesday, Sir Gus said: “One of the things that was wrong about the ministerial code (is) that people thought, journalists in particular, about this, ‘Aha, gotcha. You broke the ministerial code therefore you must resign’, which is not true.

“It shouldn’t be true. It should be, ‘You broke the ministerial code, it is actually a relatively minor offence, I am going to give you a yellow card and we’ll move on’.”

He added: “I would personally like the independent investigation to have, overall, more power to take up, to start investigations.

“Hopefully we will get to the bottom of this and then the Prime Minister will make a decision as to what should be done.”

Also appearing at the IfG event, former cabinet minister George Eustice said he did not know the circumstances of Mrs Braverman’s case but echoed Sir Gus’s view on the way events are being perceived.

He said: “There is a tendency sometimes where we have these rules for them to be turned into a kind of gotcha kind of debate.

“The thing that always surprised me about our system is rarely do people get done for any serious wrongdoing. It is usually some minor technical crossing of the line that then gets blown out of proportion.

“It is a big weakness in our system that we have these distractions.”

13:22 , Martha Mchardy

In the last question of the urgent questions session, DUP MP Jim Shannon said we should all learn from the Biblical quote, “that he who is without sin should cast the first stone.”

13:21 , Martha Mchardy

Conservative Miriam Cates (Penistone and Stocksbridge) spoke of a “clear attempt to play the woman not the ball,” during an Urgent Questions session about the home secretary’s handling of a speeding fine.

She asked: “Does (he) agree with me that this leak is a clear attempt to play the woman not the ball, an attempt that undermines our democracy and distracts from the important job of delivering on ordinary people’s priorities.”

Cabinet office minister Jeremy Quin replied: “The Home secretary has an incredibly important job to do, I totally agree with (her) and I know she’s deeply committed whatever the noise, to get on and deliver that job for the British people.”

Conservative Sir Julian Lewis (New Forest East) said: “I have no first hand knowledge of this particular case, but does (he) agree with me, that there is and should always be a difference between asking a civil servant to do something which may or may not be wrong and asking a civil servant for advice on whether something is or is not likely to be wrong if you do it.”

Mr Quin replied: “Of course I would agree that there is a difference there, but I wouldn’t wish to speculate about this particular circumstance as (he) will understand.”

‘How many strikes’ before the Home Secretary is ‘out,’ asks Angela Rayner

13:06 , Martha Mchardy

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner has asked “how many strikes” before the Home Secretary is “out”?

Asking an urgent question in the Commons, she said: “Our constituents expect those who make the rules to follow the rules, especially the minister responsible for upholding the law.”

Ms Rayner continued: “So can he (Jeremy Quin) start by confirming whether the home secretary did or did not ask civil servants for help on this matter? After days of dither and delay... the prime minister still hasn’t decided whether there should be an investigation by his ethics adviser. When can we expect to know what the prime minister is thinking on this matter?”

After referring to Ms Braverman’s previous breach of the ministerial code back in October, she added: “How many strikes before she is out?”

Cabinet office minister Mr Quin said he is not “going to get into speculation about the events in question”, adding: “He (the prime minister) is gathering the information.

“What you know of the prime minister is that he will deal with these issues properly and professionally, but the first point of that is to gather the information required on which he can take a view.”

Braverman announces crackdown on foreign students bringing family to the UK

13:02 , Martha Mchardy

Suella Braverman has announced a crackdown on overseas students bringing family members to the UK as part of a push to reduce net migration.

The home secretary said all foreign students – apart from those on postgraduate research programmes – will be banned from bringing dependents from January 2024.

Ms Braverman said there had been an “unexpected” spike in the number of relatives coming with students – saying the trend could “not be at the expense” of the Tory promise to cut immigration.

Rishi Sunak’s government is also stopping international students from switching from the student via route into work routes before their studies have been completed.

Maintenance requirements for students and their dependants will also be pulled, and Ms Braverman has vowed to clamp down on “unscrupulous education agents who may be supporting inappropriate applications to sell immigration not education”.

Adam Forrest reports:

Braverman announces crackdown on foreign students bringing family to UK

12:59 , Martha Mchardy

Labour MP Clive Efford asked if it is true that the civil servants who asked to arrange a private speed awareness course for Suella Braverman referred the matter to the Cabinet Office’s proprietary and ethics team.

Jeremy Quin said the PM is seeking facts as to what happened.

12:57 , Martha Mchardy

SNP MP Joanna Cherry asks Jeremy Quin if the home secretary’s view on the Rwanda migration deal is influenced by her links to a charity that worked with members of the Rwandan government, revealed by The Independent.

Ms Cherry said Braverman has a “rather rosey-eyed view” of Rwanda’s human rights record.

Quin said he has not read the report and had only seen a tweet.

12:55 , Martha Mchardy

A Conservative former minister has said it would be better to allow the independent adviser to initiate his own investigations into breaches of the Ministerial Code.

Former attorney general Jeremy Wright told the Commons: “He (Jeremy Quin) will recall that the Committee on Standards in Public Life, when I was a member of it, recommended that the independent adviser should be able to initiate their own inquiries into breaches of the Ministerial Code, should be able to determine whether there was a breach, leaving of course properly, sanctions for the prime minister to determine.

“That has several advantages, it gives the benefit of a decision being taken at arm’s length from Government and if I may say to him, it would also mean we will have fewer occasions such as this, and he will have to answer fewer UQs (Urgent Questions).”

Cabinet office minister Jeremy Quin replied: “I wouldn’t wish us to detract from the fact that the Ministerial Code is a prime minister’s document. It’s a code as to how the prime minister expects his ministers or her ministers to behave in a set of circumstances.

“The prime minister is the ultimate judge of that Ministerial Code.”

12:54 , Martha Mchardy

Home secretary Suella Braverman told MPs: “I am pleased to announce a package of measures to help deliver our goal of falling net migration, while supporting the Government’s priority of growing the economy.”

The measures include: removing the right for international students to bring dependants, unless they are on postgraduate courses currently designated as research programmes, and removing the ability for international students to switch out of the student route into work routes before their studies have been completed.

The Government is also reviewing the maintenance requirements for students and dependants and introducing steps to clamp down on “unscrupulous education agents who may be supporting inappropriate applications to sell immigration not education”.

There will also be better communication of the immigration rules to the higher education sector and to international students, and improved and more targeted enforcement activity, she said.

“We are committed to attracting the brightest and the best to the UK. Therefore, our intention is to work with universities over the course of the next year to design an alternative approach that ensures that the best and the brightest students can bring dependants to our world leading universities, while continuing to reduce net migration,” she said.

12:53 , Martha Mchardy

Conservative MP Edward Leigh said the country used to have “proper scandals”, involving sex or money, or the illegal invasion of Iraq. “All this moral outrage is ludicrous,” he said in response to an urgent question about the home secretary’s handling of a speeding fine.

He said: “What’s wrong with this country, we used to have proper scandals about sex or money, or about prime ministers invading Iraq on dodgy evidence in which hundreds of thousands of people died.

“Apparently this is a scandal, all this moral outrage is ludicrous that a minister asked her private office about something and she takes their advice... We all know what’s this all about, they’re attacking a good home secretary who is trying to attack the real scandal of mass immigration to this country.”

Cabinet office minister Jeremy Quin replied: “Is this all a storm in a tea cup is the question being asked by (him). The information will be gathered by the Prime Minister... whatever that process, I know that the home secretary is deeply committed to continue to deliver on her incredibly important work of delivering for the British people.”

Watch live: MPs face urgent questions over claims Suella Braverman broke ministerial code

12:51 , Martha Mchardy

Live: MPs face urgent questions over claims Suella Braverman broke ministerial code

12:51 , Martha Mchardy

Jeremy Quin said the prime minister will act in a “professional and proper manner.”

12:46 , Martha Mchardy

Conservative former cabinet minister Jeremy Wright said when he was a member of the committee on standards in public life, it recommended that the independent adviser on ministers’ interests should be allowed to initiate an investigation without waiting to be asked by the prime minister.

12:44 , Martha Mchardy

Kirsty Blackman, SNP Cabinet Office spokesperson, asked Jeremy Quin to respond to The Independent’s report that the home secretary failed to formally disclose years of previous work with the Rwandan government.

Ms Blackman said any investigation should include information from The Independent’s report.

“This is a descent into absolute farce,” she said.

She added: “Instead of professionalism, accountability and integrity that the Prime Minister promised when he came into office, we are faced with calamity, chaos and corruption... How can the Prime Minister continue to pretend that he’s presiding over a Government with anything other than their own personal interests at heart?”

Cabinet Office minister Jeremy Quin replied: “There is information being gathered and that will be the first point to determine the next steps beyond this.”

Labour’s Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Brighton, Kemptown) asked: “If the Prime Minister is gathering the evidence, he is asking for more information, what is so wrong with just launching an investigation properly through the correct channels?”

Mr Quin replied: “There’s nothing incorrect with the process which is being conducted properly and professionally. The Prime Minister will gather the information and then decide next steps, it’s very simple.”

12:41 , Martha Mchardy

Cabinet Office minsiter Jeremy Quin said: “The Prime Minister made clear to the House yesterday that he is receiving information on the issues raised.

“Since returning from the G7, the Prime Minister has met both the independent adviser and the Home Secretary and asked for further information.

“It is right that the Prime Minister, as the head of the executive and the arbiter of the Ministerial Code, be allowed time to receive relevant information on this matter.

“Honourable members will be updated on this in due course.”

12:39 , Martha Mchardy

The prime minister has met with the home secretary, and asked for “further information,” Jeremy Quin said.

He said the prime minister is the “ultimate judge” of the standards expected of a minister.

He added the prime minister “made clear to the House yesterday that he is receiving information on the issues raised” in regards to Ms Braverman.

12:36 , Martha Mchardy

Jeremy Quin is in parliament now responding to Angela Rayner’s urgent question about the criteria for launching ministerial code breach probes.

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.”

Asked about The Independent’s report that Ms Braverman failure to formally disclose years of previous work with the Rwandan government, the PM’s spokesman said: “I haven’t seen that claim.”

He added: “Obviously ministers are required to make the requisite declarations. If the IA [independent adviser on ethics] thinks they are of issue they are then declared.”

Pressed whether Mr Sunak could ask his independent ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus to look into whether or not Ms Braverman should have declared her work, the No 10 spokesman said: “I’m not aware of any plans for that.

“My understanding is that it predates her time as minister. I believe the Home Office have issued a statement.”

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