Herbert Morrison, a past chief of the Home Office, once said that its “corridors are paved with dynamite”. Which is why it is of such critical importance that the home secretary is a person who is careful around explosives rather than someone who can’t be trusted with a box of matches.
Opposition parties have been joined by Tory MPs of the liberal persuasion in recoiling in disgust at the deliberately inflammatory provocations of Suella Braverman. “Mad” and “bad” are among the descriptions to be heard from moderate Tories. They’re pressing Rishi Sunak to get a pair of cojones and fire her, both for what she has done and for defying Number 10’s instructions not to do it. Expressions of horror are also to be heard from some Conservative MPs that you’d associate with the traditional right of the party. One of their number, who once worked in the same government department as Ms Braverman, fumed to me that she is “too fucking dangerous” to hold the most junior ministerial rank, never mind occupy a great office of state with such grave duties in so many sensitive areas.
