Foreign Secretary James Cleverly praised Suella Braverman’s reappointment as a home secretary barely days after she was forced to resign.
Ms. Braverman resigned after confessing to two data breaches last week.
Labour argued that her return to cabinet undercut incoming prime minister Rishi Sunak’s vow to govern with “ethics and accountability.”
Mr. Cleverly maintained that Ms. Braverman’s apology for breaching the rules demonstrated her honesty.
In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today program, he stated that Mr. Sunak had accepted her apologies and reappointed her because she had “very, very recent” Home Office experience.
The Prime Minister wants to ensure that the department can deliver on day one.
Before Mr. Sunak’s first Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons at noon, the new government met.
Yvette Cooper, the opposition home secretary for Labour, criticized the prime minister’s re-appointment, accusing him of putting party above country “only a few hours into the job.”
Alistair Carmichael, the home affairs spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, stated that it “makes a joke of Rishi Sunak’s claims to be bringing honesty to Number 10.”
He stated, “A home secretary who broke the rules is unfit for a Home Office that follows the rules.”
The Liberal Democrats seek an investigation into Ms. Braverman’s appointment, “including any promises Sunak made to her behind closed doors,” while Labour wants an investigation into potential security breaches by the home secretary.
The Labour Party has been given an urgent question on the matter, allowing parliamentarians to question ministers about the appointment on Wednesday evening.
Some Conservative Members of Parliament have quietly voiced their concerns to the BBC regarding the nomination.
Ms. Braverman resigned last week during the turbulent closing days of Liz Truss’ brief premiership.
In her resignation letter, she admitted to a “technical violation” of ministerial regulations by transmitting an official document to an unauthorized recipient.
She wrote, “I have committed a mistake; I accept responsibility; I quit.”
Her letter also alluded to differences with Ms. Truss about immigration policy, expressing worry that the government was not keeping its promises to combat illegal migration.
Nonetheless, Mr. Sunak reappointed Ms. Braverman as home secretary on his first day as prime minister.
It occurred three days after Ms. Braverman endorsed him in the race to succeed Ms. Truss, a move that was largely viewed as a significant endorsement from a senior Conservative party member on the right.
When asked if Ms. Braverman’s promotion was a reward for her support of the new prime minister, Mr. Cleverly stated that Mr. Sunak had significant support from MPs in the election, adding, “I doubt he required a specific individual endorsement.”
Why is Suella Braverman making a return, and what does this entail for public policy?
In her resignation letter to Liz Truss, she stated that she had “severe reservations” about the government’s commitment to reducing overall migration levels and halting illegal immigration. It is evident what she intends to accomplish in her new position.
At the Tory convention, she discussed her “dream” of implementing the Rwanda strategy and reducing immigration levels to the tens of thousands.
Remember that Liz Truss was about to announce immigration policy to encourage economic growth – something she was apparently at odds with Suella Braverman on.
Gaining Suella Braverman’s support was a pivotal point in Rishi Sunak’s abbreviated leadership campaign, and returning her to one of the great offices of state is an overture to the party’s right.
During the summer leadership contest, he spoke extensively about asylum seekers, but less so on immigration; hence, we do not know much about his views.
However, it is intriguing that he has placed one of his long-standing allies, Robert Jenrick, as immigration minister in the Home Office.
Perhaps his eyes and ears within the department, or someone who can present alternate arguments or form an entire policy domain.
One to observe
The dispute over Ms. Braverman’s new position occurred while the Home Affairs Committee heard testimony regarding Channel crossings.
Immigration minister Tom Pursglove was scheduled to speak, but his attendance was canceled after he was fired in Tuesday’s government reshuffle.
Instead, MPs heard from Dan O’Mahoney, the Home Office’s covert Channel threat commander, who informed the committee that 38,000 individuals have landed in the UK in tiny boats so far this year, an increase from last year’s number of 28,526.
In addition, the committee heard that around 93% of those who arrived in tiny boats this year claimed asylum. However, there is a delay in processing claims, with only 4% of 2021 applications handled.
Mr. O’Mahoney also highlighted a significant increase in the number of Albanians unlawfully entering the United Kingdom, from 50 in 2020 to 21,000 this year.
