The Prime Minister is facing growing calls to fire Suella Braverman for stoking tensions ahead of Armistice Day protests, with the Labour leader accusing the Home Secretary of spawning “hatred and distrust”.
Keir Starmer accused Braverman of “demeaning her office” following scenes of far-right violence towards officers on Saturday after she branded pro-Palestinian protesters “hate marchers” and accused the police of bias for letting the rally go ahead.
Dozens of counter-protesters were arrested, including many trying to confront those participating in the march which Sunak and Braverman had urged police to ban.
In a comment piece in the Sunday Telegraph, Starmer said few public figures “have done more recently to whip up division” and said her and the Prime Minister’s treatment of the police and protesters showed a “lack of respect for this country’s values and its principles”.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said it was “disturbing” to see the violence towards police and if the Prime Minister does not sack Braverman, “he’s too weak or agrees with her”.
“Sadly, these scenes were predictable after a week of efforts from some to stoke tension,” Khan wrote in the Sunday Mirror.
“They were a direct result of the Home Secretary’s words and behaviour.”
“If Suella Braverman had any honour she would resign – and if not, Rishi Sunak should sack her.”
Nine officers were injured as they prevented a crowd reaching the Cenotaph with Met Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist calling their “extreme violence” towards the police “extraordinary and deeply concerning”.
“A week of intense debate about protest and policing” helped “increase community tensions”, he said.
Sunak has so far maintained confidence in his Home Secretary, even after a week in which ministers distanced themselves from her claims that homelessness is a “lifestyle choice”.
There has been speculation the Prime Minister will carry out a ministerial reshuffle, which could see her moved, but not before next week’s Supreme Court ruling on the Rwanda deportation policy which she has championed.
Her incendiary language on “pro-Palestinian mobs” has angered many, including within the Tory party, with demands for her to go increasing.
In a comment piece in the Sunday Telegraph, Starmer wrote: “The Home Secretary and the Prime Minister’s treatment of the police and protestors alike this week – coming just a few days after she shamefully described homelessness as ‘a lifestyle choice’ – betray a total lack of respect for this country’s values and its principles.
“Few people in public life have done more recently to whip up division, set the British people against one another and sow the seeds of hatred and distrust than Suella Braverman. In doing so, she demeans her office.”
Sir Keir said some among the pro-Palestinian demonstrators incited violence, glorified Hamas or called for Israel’s destruction and “should be dealt with firmly by the law”.
But he said blanket calls to cancel the rallies and Government attempts to brand protesters they do not agree with as extremists are “a sign of ministers’ cowardice”.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Suella Braverman was warned repeatedly of the dangers of inflaming tensions and undermining the police.
“A Home Secretary that doesn’t take seriously the security of our streets is only allowed to remain in a government that has lost all sense of governing. Britain is better than Rishi Sunak and his Cabinet.”
Humza Yousaf: "She has spent her week fanning the flames"
First Minister Humza Yousaf earlier called for Braverman to resign.
The SNP leader tweeted: “The far right has been emboldened by the Home Secretary. She has spent her week fanning the flames of division. They are now attacking the police on Armistice Day.
“The Home Secretary’s position is untenable. She must resign.”
Hope Not Hate echoed the demand, with the campaign group’s chief executive Nick Lowles saying the Home Secretary has “inflamed tensions and, as we have seen today, whipped up the far right into a violent frenzy. She’s got to go”.
But Braverman has supporters on the right of the party and any move against her by Sunak could deepen divisions within Tory ranks.
Conservative former minister Brendan Clarke-Smith defended the Home Secretary, saying: “I’ve heard some daft takes, but to try and justify this appalling behaviour by blaming an op-ed in The Times, which simply stated the flaming obvious, is pathetic.”
Tory backbencher Danny Kruger said: “You know what, with the benefit of hindsight, maybe it would have been best if the march today hadn’t been allowed to go ahead.”
Braverman rowed back her language on the eve of Armistice Day, giving police her “full backing” at a meeting with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley.
It came after her article in The Times, in which she claimed officers “play favourites” towards pro-Palestinian protesters, was disowned by Downing Street and provoked fury among Tory MPs.
