New Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised “integrity” would be central to his Government after the disasters of his predecessors. Days into his premiership, this ropey commitment has already been broken due to his reappointment of Suella Braverman as Home Secretary.
She quit the Truss Government after sending sensitive information outside the administration from a personal email – a major security breach. For a lawyer to make such a serious mistake raised huge issues about her judgment and fitness for office.
Despite her blunder, Sunak gave Braverman the job back as a reward for backing him in the leadership contest. She has now admitted to sending government documents to her personal email six times during her first stint as Home Secretary.
In an age of cyber-security breaches, where even Truss is hacked, her actions were reckless in the extreme. Her actions on the migrant processing centre at Manston centre are also deeply troubling.
Reports suggest she failed to sign off on measures which could have eased pressure at the centre, which is dangerously over-crowded. It has been claimed she was warned the Government was acting outside the law by failing to provide alternative accommodation.
A Home Secretary has to take tough decisions but Braverman is a zealot who puts ideology ahead of pragmatism. Her presence in the Cabinet is a stain on the Sunak Government that cannot be removed.
Voters must be given the choice of whether this appalling Government still commands public support. A General Election is long overdue
Burning injustice
The defeat of Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil’s presidential election should give hope to anyone who cares about the unfolding climate catastrophe. The far-right leader – dubbed Brazil’s Trump – showed a callous disregard for the welfare of the Amazon rainforest during his time in office.
Environmental activists were terrified he would win again and warned of the dangers of further deforestation. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s victory may have been narrow but it was hugely significant.
In his acceptance speech he signalled a different approach from his predecessor on green issues. Aware the eyes of the world were on his country, he declared Brazil “open to international co-operation to protect the Amazon”.
Other nations and international organisations must take the opportunity to engage with Brazil now Bolsonaro is gone. The future of our planet is at stake.
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