What did Suella Braverman say? Home Secretary’s criticism of Met Police and pro-Palestine march explained
Suella Braverman has accused the Metropolitan Police of “double standards” in the way they handle protests, ahead of the pro-Palestinian march in London on Armistice Day.
The Home Secretary made the remarks in an article for The Times, which was not signed off by Downing Street in advance.
The article was heavily critical of London’s police, and has been widely condemned, triggering a fresh row within the Conservative Party.
Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson, however, said the Prime Minister continues to have full confidence in Ms Braverman.
What did Suella Braverman say?
Ms Braverman’s article, published on Wednesday, was relating to the pro-Palestinian march which is set to go ahead on Saturday despite Government objections.
In the piece she said “pro-Palestinian mobs” are “largely ignored” by officers “even when clearly breaking the law”.
She said there is “a perception that senior police officers play favourites when it comes to protesters”, and labelled pro-Palestinian protesters “hate marchers”.
The Home Secretary added: “This is not a time for naiveté. We have seen with our own eyes that terrorists have been valorised, Israel has been demonised as Nazis and Jews have been threatened with further massacres.”
She also compared the protest to sectarian rallies held in Northern Ireland, saying she does not “believe that these marches are merely a cry for help for Gaza” but “an assertion of primacy by certain groups – particularly Islamists – of the kind we are more used to seeing in Northern Ireland”.
“Also disturbingly reminiscent of Ulster are the reports that some of Saturday’s march group organisers have links to terrorist groups, including Hamas,” she added.
Ms Braverman went on to claim that right-wing protests receive a more “stern response” from the Met than pro-Palestinian marches.
What has the response been?
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said on Thursday: “The content was not agreed by No 10.”
He added: “The Prime Minister continues to believe that the police will operate without fear or favour.”
He declined to offer judgement on whether the Home Secretary broke the ministerial code, which states that “all major interviews and media appearances, both print and broadcast, should also be agreed with the No 10 Press Office”.
Downing Street said it would “update further” after looking into the “details” of what happened.
The Prime Minister is facing calls from opposition parties to sack Ms Braverman over the “irresponsible” and “divisive” remarks which they say fan the risk of unrest this weekend.
The former chief inspector of constabulary, Sir Tom Winsor, said Ms Braverman’s intervention “crosses the line” by breaking the convention that a home secretary should not question the operational integrity of the police.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It’s contrary to the spirit of the ancient constitutional settlement with the police, I think it’s contrary to the letter of that constitutional settlement, and it is highly regrettable that it has been made.
“These political objections can be made by many, many people, but a Home Secretary of all people is not the person to do this.”
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said “police forces are focused on upholding the law without fear or favour” when asked about his Cabinet colleague’s claims.
He also refused to endorse her characterisation of the protest planned for Saturday as a “hate” march.
Labour accused Ms Braverman of “encouraging extremists on all sides” and “attacking the police when she should be backing them”.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said in the Commons: “Does this Government still believe in the operation independence of the police, and how can it do so while this Home Secretary is in post and did the Prime Minister and No 10 agree to the content of this article?
“Because either the Prime Minister has endorsed this or he’s too weak to sack her.”
The Home Secretary’s article is her latest high-profile intervention, with ministers this week refusing to support her claims some people were homeless as a “lifestyle choice”.
What has Rishi Sunak said about the protest?
In a statement following a meeting with Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley, the Prme Minister conceded that the protest this weekend will go ahead.
He said in a statement: “Saturday’s planned protest is not just disrespectful but offends our heartfelt gratitude to the memory of those who gave so much so that we may live in freedom and peace today.
“But part of that freedom is the right to peacefully protest. And the test of that freedom is whether our commitment to it can survive the discomfort and frustration of those who seek to use it, even if we disagree with them. We will meet that test and remain true to our principles.”
He added: “It’s welcome that the police have confirmed that the march will be away from the Cenotaph and they will ensure that the timings do not conflict with any remembrance events.
“There remains the risk of those who seek to divide society using this weekend as a platform to do so. That is what I discussed with the Metropolitan Police commissioner in our meeting.”
