THE Prime Minister and Enviroment Secretary have both faced questions following reports Home Secretary Suella Braverman approached civil servants about arranging a private driving awareness course in a bid to help her avoid incurring speeding points on her licence.
Rishi Sunak expressed his frustration at being asked whether he would ask his ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus to investigate the claims at the G7 Summit in Japan.
“Did you have any questions about the summit?” he asked, before being further quizzed on Braverman.
Enviroment Secretary Therese Coffey, speaking to Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, said: “I’ve only read the newspapers like your good self, I haven’t got any extra information, I’m not aware of any further details on that.
“It is perfectly normal nowadays if people are found speeding to be offered points or to go on a course of some kind.
“As I say, I don’t know the details that are referred to in the newspaper but I think, as far as I’m aware, the Home Secretary has decided to take the points, pay the penalty and to keep focused on her main job of security, but also tackling illegal migration.”
Coffey, pressed on why she had not contacted her colleague about the reports in order to find out more details, said: “Because it is the case that there is some speculation in the newspaper … I’m not going to get into individual details.
“Candidly, this is just a case of something that happened, I guess, just over a year ago. I don’t quite know the details, I’m only aware of what was in the newspaper.”
Ridge concluded the focus on Braverman by saying: "I don't really know what to say to be honest."
Sunak declined to back Home Secretary Suella Braverman over the allegations.
The Prime Minister did not state whether he will launch an investigation into the Cabinet minister, despite demands from Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
Asked whether he had full confidence in Braverman at a press conference at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Sunak said he did not know the “full details” and has not spoken to her yet.
But he noted she had “expressed regret” for speeding.
“I don’t know the full details of what has happened nor have I spoken to the Home Secretary,” Sunak said.
“I think you can see first hand what I have been doing over the last day or so but I understand that she’s expressed regret for speeding, accepted the penalty and paid the fine.”
However, a No 10 spokesperson later insisted he does “of course” have full confidence in his Home Secretary, responding to a message: “Yes, he does.”
